Contact Dermatitis due to cosmetics is also common in Korea. as in other developed countries. However. detection of the causative antigens is in a difficult situation due to many reasons. We have routinely patch tested with Japanese cosmetic series patch test allergens, Types 17 and 18 in addition to Hollister standard battery and patients own cosmetics to 4Q cases of suspected cosmetic contact dermatitis who have visited our Environmental and Occupational Clinic during the past one year. The study result was as follows. Total 55% ositive reaction related to cosmetics was observed in 4p patch tested patients. 2 The most frequently observed antigens were hydroxycitronellal, benzyl saliylate and cinnamic alcohol.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests*

This study was undertaken to investigate the response of non-immunologic contact urticaria(NICU) test before and after ingestion of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as naproxene, ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. Forty patients who showed positive reaction to 5% benzoic acid (BA) in petrolatum by 20 minutes closed patch test were chosen and divided into 3 groups. Group I was consisted of 13 patients who were taken naproxene 250mg bid, group II, 14 patients, taken ibuprofen 600mg bid, and group III, 13 patients, taken mefenamic acid 500mg bid. All the patients were tested with 5%, 2.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.1% BA in petrolatum using Finn chamber on Scanpor tape on the right arm before medication and next day on the left arm after medication of each day. Mefenamic acid did not show any significant differences before and after ingestion of drug. Naproxene reduced reaction about half of patients. Ibuprofen reduced reaction in almost all patients and blocked reaction completely in 9 of 13 patients. This results suggested that there was no correlation between blocking effect to BA induced contact urticaria and so called anti-inflammatory potencies of naproxene and ibuprofen, and that NICU by BA is partly mediated by prostaglandins(PG) or mediated by other mediators, which were potentiated by PG, except histamin.
Arm ; Benzoic Acid ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; Eating ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Mefenamic Acid ; Naproxen ; Patch Tests ; Petrolatum ; Urticaria*

Nickel is widely known as a common source of contact dermatitis and nickel sensitivity amounts to nearly 10 percent of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Common sources of nickel dermatitis are well known as necklaces, watches, rings, hooks, earrings and spectacle frames. Recently, we have seen five cases of nickel dermatitis the suspected sources of which were metal spectacle frames. The interim patch test result in our occupational and environmental clinic suggests that the metal spectacle frame is one of the most common sources of nickel dermatitis. Out of 84 medical students 27 wore metal spectacle frames. We have done a dimethylglyoxime spot test to the metal spectacle frames and got a positive result in 12 out of 27(44.4%). We conclude that metal spectacle frame seems to be one of the dominant causes of nickel dermatitis and it will be an increasing problem in our society.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Ear ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Students, Medical

54-year-old male patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia was consulted to our department. He had had a few painful erythematous necrotic plaques on the chest, which suggested initslly vasculitis or pyoderma. On histological examination, characterisitic histological findings of non-septated large hyphae were observed in the dermis and subcutaneoustissue, Although organism was not isolated on Sabouraud agar media containing cycloheximide, the diagnosis of cutaneous mucormycosis was made by the characteristic histological nattlre. He died after 2 weeks with amphotericin B intravenous injections so that additional fungus culture was not performed.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Cycloheximide ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Pyoderma ; Thorax ; Vasculitis

This study was undertaken to observe the difference of patch test and prick test positive reactions in three groups, 20 atopic dermatitis patients, 20 chronic urticaria patients, and 20 normal controls, Twenty commercial antigens (ToriiCo.) and twenty three frozen and boiled antigens of fishes and shellfishes were used as test materials. The results were as follows: 1. No positive reaction was observed in all sixty subjects in patch test. 2 In prick test, difference in reactivity was observed among atopic dermatitis (14. 7%), chronic urticaria (8.7%), and normal control(1. 5%) 3. There was significant difference in reactivity between Torii and frozen antigens in atopic dermatitis group, but no significance in chronic urticaria and control groups. 4. Boiling altered the reactivity in tested materials in all three groups of subjects singificantly. 5. Patients with past or family history of allergic diseases showed double fold higher reactivity tban patients without any history.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fishes ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Shellfish* ; Urticaria*

Alopecia areata is a relatively common disorded but the exact psthogenesis is still unknown and there is no satisfactory treatment. Recently contact immunotherapy has been studied with dinitrochlorogenzene(DNCB) which is known to have in vitro mutagenecity limiting its clinieal application. In contrast, diphencyprone (DPCP) is a potent contact sensitizing agent which is not known to be mutagenic. We treated 40 patients with alopecia areata who were refraetory to standard treatment.DPCP was dissolved in acetone in concentrations of 0.0001 2%. After sensitization, DPCP was topically applied to the right side of the scalp with left side sewing as control. After obvious hair growt,h, DPCP was applied on both sides of the scalp. A positive respanse was defined as growth of terminal hairs on the scalp. The response rate was estimated by determing the percentage of hair covered areas com- pared to the total area of the scalp. The results were as follows. 1) Of 20 patients who were followed over 3months, 9 patients(45% ) showed positive response, and 6 patients(30%) showed almost complete regrowth of terminal hairs (above 90% of scalp area). 2) The response time varied from 4 weeks to 33 weeks, with average duration of 10.6 weeks. 3) Nine out of forty patients developed side effects such as severe contact eczema, cervical lymph node swelling and vitiligo. Three out of 40 patients had to discontinue therapy due to side effects. 4) Patients with mild alopecia areata ganerslly showed a higher response rate(50%) than those with alopecis totalis(33%) and alopecia universalis(43%), but the differences were not statistically signifieant(p>0.05). 5) No correlation was found between reaponse rates and clinical factors such as age, sex and duration ot the disease. In conclusion, treatment with DPCP was thought to be effective in patients with alopecis areata who were refractory to standard treatment. Further long-term studies may be neees- sary to find out clinical course of the disease after trestment, and long-term safety of this treatment.
Acetone ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hair ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lymph Nodes ; Reaction Time ; Scalp ; Vitiligo

The pinch graft is one type of skin graft and is indicated in small, chronic stubborn wounds or ulcers where cosmetic results are not paramount. It is a common procedure for the rapid healing of leg ulcers in countries where these are very common, such as in western society. However, it is an unfamiliar procedure to dermatologists in Korea where leg ulcers are quite rare. We treated a case of leg ulcer in systemic sclerosis using pinch grafts with satisfactory results. The pinch graft may be a useful treatment method for skin ulcers in dermatologic surgery under adverse conditions.
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Korea ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Transplants* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

Thin-layer (uni-dimensional and bi-dimensional) chrornatography studies were performed on 60 brownish stockings from 12 companies in Korea to search for Disperse Yellow 3 and Disperse Orange 3, which are known as common sensitizers in textiles. The results were as follows : 1) Mixture of various-colored dyes were being used to reveal the brownish hue in the stockings. 2) TLC demonstrated the presence of Disperse Yellow 3 in 53 stocking. 3) TLC demonstrated the presence of Disperse Orange 3 in 3 stockings, Although lack or more sophisticsted tests such as spectroseopic, infra red or nuclear spectra identification. These results suggest a strong clue to the presence of Disperse Yellow 3 and Disperse Orange 3 in the commercial stocking now being used in Korea.
Chromatography* ; Citrus sinensis* ; Coloring Agents ; Korea ; Textiles

Recently, people living in a rapidly industrializing country such as Korea seems to have less opportunity to be exposed to Rhus and Ginkgo trees than before, which may cause a lower prevalence of sensitivity to such allergens than those reported in the past. To prove the prevalence of sensitivity in Koreans, we have tested 0. 002g and 0.0l%, Urushiols and 10% Ginkgo leaves produced by Torii company to 72 atients with or suggesting contact dermatitis. The results were as follows: 1) Twelve of 72 patients(13, 9%) showed positive reactions and two patients(2. 8 %) showed active sensitization to both 0. 002% and 0. 0l% Urushiols. Only one patient(]. 4%) reacted to 10g Ginkgo leaves, and she was also reacted to the Urushiols. 2) Age and sex distribution of the positive reactors were none under thirty, 2 in thirties, 3 in forties, 4 in fifties, one over sixty, and seven female patients outnumber three male patients. 3) Out of 5 patients having past history cf contact dermatitis to Rhus tree, only patients showed positive reactions. Out of 67 patients without past history of allergy to Rhus, 8(ll, 9%) showed positive reactions and 59(88. 1%) showed negative reactions.
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Rhus* ; Sex Distribution ; Trees

Demacre', a new topical steroid cream containing 0.025% beclomethasone dipropionate, was used in several kinds of dermatoses. Total 35 patients including ll cases of contact dermatitis, 5 of atopic dermatitis, 3 of hand eczema, 3 of seborrheic dermatitis, 2 of neurodermatitis, 2 of nummular eczema, 2 of autosensitization dermatitis, 1 of chronic eczema, 3 of psoriasis, 1 of insect bite, 1 of miliaria rubra, and 1 of intertrigo were treated by Demacre'. Among these patients, we observed excellent effects in 4 patients (11%), good effects in 22 patients (63%), and fair effects in 3 patients (9%). Namely, among these 35 patients, 26 patients (74%) revealed excellent to good therapeutic effects on their skin conditions with Demacre'. No untoward side effects were noted in all subjects treated with Demacre.
Beclomethasone ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Eczema ; Hand ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Intertrigo ; Miliaria ; Neurodermatitis ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases*