Hair loss is a common and distressing symptom. However, research on the hair biology had been relatively lacking until several decades ago. Recently a lot of studies on hair were conducted and experimental works uncovered a secret of the hair growth. The hair follicle is a highly organized structure with its unique growth cycle. This review focuses on the biology of hair growth and diagnostic methods of hair loss. Also, etiopathogenesis and treatment of alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia is discussed.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia* ; Biology ; Hair ; Hair Follicle

Hypertrichosis has been frequently observed during the oral administration of the potent antihypertensive agent, minoxidil. However, hypertrichosis is uncommon after treatment with topical minoxidil for alopecia, and usually occurs in areas close to the site of the application. We describe a 52-year-old woman with diffuse facial hypertrichosis. She developed abnormal hypertrichosis while applying the optimal dose of 3% topical minoxidil for 2 months for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
Administration, Oral ; Alopecia ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis* ; Middle Aged ; Minoxidil*

Pemphigus is a rare, blistering autoimmune disease in which the action of antibodies is now well established. The most effective therapy is the administration of cortioseroids. Prior to the use of steroids, it was commonly fatal. Since the availability of corticosteroidsnortality has been markedly reduced. However prolonged administration of steroids may be difficult to sustain because of severe side effects. For these, other sdjuvant therapies were considered. Such as immunosuppresive drugs, gold, dapsone, plasmapheresis and intralesional injection of corticosteroid. Of these, immunosuppressive therapies are most commonly used. Recently cyclosporine which was for human organ transplantation is used in dermatology. Cyclosporine is a potent immunosupprc save agent with no appreciable effect on bone marrow and a selective inhibition to helper T cells. In our case, cyclosporine was administrated to the patient who had suffered from severe pemphigis vulgaris for 3 years without responding to treatment. We gave cyclosporine 400mg and prednisolon, 90mg per day. But we found a sudden increase of the RUN/Cr level and a shut down of the renal funtion. Therefore we discontinued cyclosporine and treated acute renal failure. However the renal damag e was irreversible and two days later the patient died.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Antibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Blister ; Bone Marrow ; Cyclosporine ; Dapsone ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Organ Transplantation ; Pemphigus* ; Plasmapheresis ; Steroids ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Transplants

Bowen's disease represents an intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma and can be associated with internal malignancy. Internal cancers originate predominantly from respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. A 71-year-old man presented with erythematous crusted plaques with emsion on the right lower abdomen, left elbow, and left 4th finger. He had been diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer 17 months ago. The histopathologic features of the skin lesions showed Bowens disease. The abdominal lesion was removed by surgical excision and the lesions on the elbow and finger were treated by topical 5-FU application.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Bowen's Disease* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Elbow ; Fingers ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Skin

The vascular involvement is seen in 8% to 24% of patients with Behçet's syndrome. Arterial lesions are less frequently observed and the involvement of renal artery is very rare. Indeed, there is only one case report of ruptured renal aneurysm due to Behc et's disease. We report a case of renal artery rupture, which was likely caused by Behçet's disease. Even though we cannot completely rule out the other causes of renal artery rupture with this patient, the rupture was likely due to vascular involvement of Behçet's disease. Dermatologists always should consider the possibility of major vessel involvement when they treat patients with Behçet's disease, even if the incidence is very low and the patient may not complain of any systemic symptoms. INTRODUCTION: Behçet's disease was first defined by Hulusi Behçet's in 1937 as a multisystemic disease with the triad of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, genital ulceration and relapsing iritis. Its etiology remains obscure. It is accepted that the pathologic process of Behçet's disease is an immunologic vasculitis. Among vascilar lesions, the venous system is the major affected site. Arterial lesions, such as aneurysms or occlusions, are rarely reported, but sometimes adversely affects the course of the disease. Aneurysm formation is known to be life-threatening because of the risk of rupture.
Aneurysm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iritis ; Renal Artery* ; Rupture* ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Vulva*

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Psoriasis*

No abstract available.
Adenoma* ; Toes*

Iron deficiency has been discussed as an etiologic factor in diffuse alopecia. Although the mechanism of alopecia related to iron deficiency remains unknown, the diagnosis is confirmed if hair loss ceases with iron administration. However, hair structure abnormalities due to iron deficiency are less known. We report a case of hair structure abnormality associated with iron deficiency anaemia. The hair structure abnormality was a fusiform and expanded node of the hair shaft. The hair loss ceased and the abnormality was corrected with iron administration.
Alopecia ; Diagnosis ; Hair* ; Iron*

No abstract available.
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