Melasma is a common acquired symmetric hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light to dark brown macules and patches on sunexposed areas of the skin. Its histopathologic characteristics are important for treatment. Melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation possibly by both the increased number of melanocytes and the increased function of melanogenic enzymes over the dermal solar changes. Until now, curative measures are not available for melasma. Current therapies include topical agents (retinoic acid, hydroquinone, steroids), peeling (Combes solution, glycolic acid, TCA), and lasers(Co2, Erbium-Yag, Q-switched).
Hyperpigmentation ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis* ; Skin ; Skin Lightening Preparations

A total of 40 adult black-mice was used and divided into two groups for expeiment. Group A was irradiated by UVB only and Group B had SPF 15 sunscreen a.pplied to the back followed by irradiation by UVB. Each group was divided again into 5 subgroups according to the days of UVB irradiation frcm 2 to 10 days. A Waldmann combination UVA+UVB Radiation Treatment Cabin 8001 was used as the light source and the UVB dosage was 50 mJ/cm2 daily. Skin specimens were taken 24 hours after the last irradiation. Histologic changes in epidermis were reviewed by the light microscope. In group A, the characteristic sunburn cells(SBC) were observed with 100 mJ/ cm2. SBC number was maximum with 400 mJ/cm2. The other epidermal changes were parakerat.osis, crusts, atypical cells, and mitoses of basal cells, which showed graded responses to the UVB doses. Pretreatment with the sunscreen completely prevented these changes.
Adult ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes* ; Mitosis ; Skin ; Sunburn

Prurigo pigmentosa is a peculiar pruritic pigmented dermatosis characterized by the sudden appearance of reddish papules accompanied by severe pruritus. The etiology still remains unknown but environmental factors may play a role, in which physical trauma or friction from wet clothing induces the skin lesions. It has a seasonal preference for spring to summer when there is increased sweating. We report a case of prurigo pigmentosa which may be triggered by sweating and cured with minocycline.
Clothing ; Friction ; Minocycline ; Prurigo* ; Pruritus ; Seasons ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Sweat* ; Sweating*

We report a case of a 41-year-old female with acrogeria. She was in good health except for the prominent atrophy over the hands and feet. On microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen from the atropl6c skin, elastic fibers were clumped and fragmented. Electronmicroscopy revealed amorphous and granulous pseudoelastin, which is presumed to be consistent with acrogeria. Our patient had acro-osteolysis and an extra chromosome in addition to the normal 23 pairs of chromosomes in one of 20 cells examined, which have been very rarely reported in the literature. Further studies are needed to find out whether this chromosomal aberration might contribute to the pathogenesis.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Adult ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Skin

Ultrastructural study was taken in a 48 year old male farmer with colloid milium. Electrcn microscopically, colloid was mainly composed of protofilaments, amorphous substance and degenerating collagens surrounded by halos. Colloidal filaments were curved and branched at their ends. Fibroblasts near the colloid island contained amorphous materials and protofilaments idnitical to that of colloid materials, Thus we suggest that. colloid milium may be produced by the abnormal fibroblasts or may be derived from actiinically damaged collagen fibers.
Collagen ; Colloids* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

A 50-year-old man developed 3cm sized, well-marginated, subcutaneous mass on the right upper back. Histopathologic finding showed the lipomatous tissue was replaced by a mixture of uniform spindle cells and mature fat cells that were closely associated with a mucoid matrix and a varying number of collagen fibers. The patient had been treated with excision and showed no evidence of recurrence.
Adipocytes ; Collagen ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

The case of a 56-year-old woman with a keratoacarithoma(KA) of the labial mucosa is herein reported, The tumor was excised and the pathological features were characteristic of a KA, This case is reported because the oral mucosa is such an unexpected location for solitary KA and the labial mucosa of this patient received chronic actinic damage, which suggested an etiological relationship. Follow-up examination of the patient after four months showed no recurrence.
Actins ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane* ; Recurrence ; Solar System*

We report herein a 53-year-old male patient with a large condyloma acuminaturn of 16 months duration on his penis. Clinically, an approximat;ely 3.5 X 2.0 Cm sized, asyrnptomatic, verrucous-surfaced, papilloma was present on his prepuce and glans. Elistological examination disclosed hyperkeratosis, marked acanthosis, papillomatosis, vacuolated upper malphigian cells, dilated capillaries, and mononuclear infiltrntes in the upper dermis. Trial of DNCB immunotherapy showed a dramatic effect on tumor regression.
Capillaries ; Dermis ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Penis

Various epidermal changes overlying a dermatofibroma can be induced through the proliferation of pluripotential epidermal cells by the stimulation of mesenchymal factors. The authors report a case of dermatofibroma in a 55-year-old male who had a reddish brown, asymptomatic nodule of 5 years duration on his left forearm. The biopsy specimen revealed a dermatofibroma of cellular type associated with epidermal changes: (1) acanthosis; (2) elongation of rete ridges; (3) thin interlacing epidermal strands with increased pigmentation resembling seborrheic keratosis or fibroepithelioma; (4) immature hair follicles and sebaceous lobules; (5) hair germ like buddings; (6) superficial basal cell epithelioma-like proliferations.
Biopsy ; Forearm ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation

Ichthyosis hystrix is characterized by extensive bilateral systemic involvement of thick hyperkeratotic verrucous papules forming confluent plaques or linear arrangement and is currently classified into a systematized epidermal nevi, which was once conaidered as an extreme variant of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. Here is presented a case with typical clinical features and characteristic histopathologic findings of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. Our patient exhibited no skeletal or CNS abnormalities reported to be associated with this condition. Marked improvement was obtained with oral administration of etretinate.
Acitretin* ; Administration, Oral ; Eating ; Etretinate* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic ; Hypertrophy ; Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital ; Ichthyosis* ; Mandible ; Nevus ; Porcupines* ; Sclerosis ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sweating, Gustatory* ; Young Adult