BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in people with a genetic predisposition. It is characterized by the miniaturization of terminal hair follicles and the formation of vellus-like follicles. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical manifestation, genetic and endocrine factor, and associated diseases of Korean patients with androgenetic alopecia. METHODS: We studied 789 Korean men and women with androgenetic alopecia. A detailed history was taken and their hormonal values were measured. A pelvic ultrasound scan was performed to check for abnormalities the ovaries and uterus of 56 women with androgenetic alopecia. RESULTS: The number of men was 1.9 times more (520) than that of women (269). Most of them were in their twenties (male 223; 42.8%, female 85; 31.5%). In the 520 male patients, Norwood class IIIv was dominant (161 patients; 30.9%). In the 269 female patients, Ludwig class I was superior (218 patients; 81%). 395 (75.9%) of male patients and 198 (73.6%) of female patients had a family history of androgenetic alopecia. The most common associated disorder was seborrheic dermatitis (male 407; 78.2%, female 155; 57.6%). And others included atopic dermatitis, hypertension, thyroid disease, etc. Serum testosterone levels were increased in 92 (17.6%) of the male patients and in 36 (13.3%) of the female patients. Abnormal pelvic ultrasound findings were observed in 10 (18%) of 56 female patients, and the conditions were ovarian cysts (8.9%), Uterine myoma (5.4%), uterine mass (2%), endometrial mass (2%). CONCLUSION: Androgenetic alopecia is a disease that has genetic and familial tendency and is associated with the androgen level. The number of androgenetic alopecia patients was increasing and type IIIv was most common in the male patients. The pelvic ultrasound showed an increased rate of abnormal findings in the female patients with androgenetic alopecia, but ultrasound is not an appropriate routine test to evaluate.
Alopecia ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Miniaturization ; Myoma ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Prevalence ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Diseases ; Uterus

Tinea incognito is a dermatophytosis of atypical clinical character due to the absence of classic features of ringworm. It is caused by prolonged use of topical or systemic corticosteroids, sometimes prescribed as a result of incorrect diagnosis. We report a case of tinea incognito presented like furunculosis on the chin. The patient had been treated with topical and oral corticosteroid under the impression of atopic dermatitis for 3 years for the eczematous lesion on the face and trunk. Mycologic studies including KOH mount and fungus culture were positive for hyphae and colonies of Trichophyton rubrum. Skin biopsy showed fungal hyphae in follicular keratinous plug and diffuse dermal and perifollicular inflammation. The lesion was treated with terbinafine systemically and cured 3 months later.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Biopsy ; Chin ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Fungi ; Furunculosis ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Inflammation ; Keratins ; Naphthalenes ; Skin ; Tinea ; Trichophyton

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) via topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is potentially useful for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. However, as a photosensitizer used in PDT, methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) can replace ALA, because MAL has more advantages than ALA. We treated two patients with basal cell carcinoma using MAL-PDT. Topical MAL-PDT may be a safe and effective treatment modality for basal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Humans ; Photochemotherapy ; Triazenes

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec(R), formerly known as STI571) is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the bcr-abl tyrosine kinase created by the Philadelphia chromosome abnormality in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Between 7 to 21% of the patients treated with imatinib mesylate have been reported to develop adverse cutaneous reactions. However, exfoliative dermatitis related to imatinib mesylate is rare and there is only one previously reported case of this in the Korean literature. We report here on a woman with localized exfoliative dermatitis that developed after administering imatinib mesylate for treating her CML.
Benzamides ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Drug Eruptions ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Mesylates ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Piperazines ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Pyrimidines ; Imatinib Mesylate

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus involving the first division of the fifth cranial nerve produces various clinical manifestations. Among them, external ocular motor palsy is a rare and uncomfortable complication, but it is generally transient and self-limited. This palsy can have a neural, vascular ormuscle origin. We report here on a case of ocular abduction palsy in a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and this palsy cleared up after treatment with systemic steroid for two weeks.
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Trigeminal Nerve

Anal disorders are common and more than one half of the population will experience one at some time during their lives. Anal erosion and fissures can cause discomfort, severe pain, bleeding and inflammation. In the acute phase of anal erosion, with bowel habit management and topical emollient, lesions can be improved. Chamomile and Myrrh are known for centuries to have several effects and have anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibacterial and antifugal properities. Here, We report a case of anal erosion treated with Chamomile and Myrrh extracts (Ad-Muc(R)). Our case indicates that Chamomile and Myrrh extracts might play a role in the management of anal erosion and fissure.
Chamomile* ; Fissure in Ano ; Hemorrhage ; Inflammation

Milia en plaque is designated as an atypical subtype of milia which is characterized by a group of milia on an erythematous base. It usually arises spontaneously in predisposed persons without any apparent causative factor and commonly occurs on the periauricular area. Histopathologic finding is consistent with milia and treatment is not established. We report a case of milia en plaque produced by physical stress in the right arm.
Arm ; Humans

Head and neck dermatitis is a variant of atopic dermatitis often seen in young adults. Pityrosporum is a normal skin commensal. Thus, its importance as a pathogen of atopic dermatitis was neglected in the past. It was found, however, that the treatment of head and neck dermatitis with an antifungal agent results in clinical improvement. At present, although the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis has not yet been fully elucidated, Pityrosporum is considered one of the triggers of head and neck dermatitis. The case of an 18-year-old male who had a history of head and neck atopic dermatitis with erythematous xerotic patches accompanied by a yellowish colored crust and oozing on the facial area is reported herein. The lesion was treated with itraconazole monotherapy for four weeks, after which its condition improved.
Adolescent ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Head ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Malassezia ; Male ; Neck ; Skin ; Young Adult

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder that presents as a clinically asymptomatic mass or painless lymph node swelling. Cutaneous HD is a very rare manifestation in patients with HD. A 66-year-old man complained of a maculopapular rash waxing and waning for one year. A painful mass had developed on his left axilla 7 weeks prior to presenting. The biopsy specimens of both skin and lymph node revealed Hodgkin's lymphoma with atypical lymphoid cells and Reed-Sternberg cells. We report a case of cutaneous involvement of HD, which had been presented as a maculopapular rash for one year.
Aged ; Axilla ; Biopsy ; Exanthema ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Reed-Sternberg Cells ; Skin

A faun tail is abnormal lumbar hypertrichosis that is characterized by a wide, often triangular or lozenge-shaped patch of coarse hair, and this hair is usually several inches long. Faun tail is a rare entity. A 36-year-old male presented with a triangular shaped hair tuft with terminal hair on the lumbosacral area, and he'd had this unusual hair since birth. There were no neurologic signs or abnormality on his spine X-ray. The MRI scan showed disc degeneration and loss of lodordosis. We report here on a rare case of faun tail, which was a form of localized hypertrichosis on the lumbosacral area, and this was successfully treated with intense pulsed (IPL) light.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parturition ; Spine