BACKGROUND: The spectrophotometer is well known to be a useful tool for estimating the objective minimal erythema dose (MED) during planning of phototherapy protocol. However, only a few spectrophotometric values are used to evaluate the erythema and pigmentation of the MED site during phototesting. OBJECTIVE: To determinea new meaning of the relationships among spectrophotometric values during phototesting. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with psoriasis and 23 patients with vitiligo were selected before undergoing narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. We interpreted the gross findings of erythema and measured the L*a*b* values using a spectrophotometer at each phototest spot. We compared MEDs, basic spectrophotometric values (L*a*b*), and b*/L* values separately according to skin type, and determined the correlation of each spectrophotometric value and the correlation between a* and b*/L* values. RESULTS: Among L*a*b* values, only b* values showed a statistically significant difference between the type III and IV groups (p=0.003). There was a positive correlation only between MEDs and b* values (p<0.05). The average b*/L*value in the type IV group was significantly higher than the type III group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The higher b* values in type IV skin indicates that skin tanning develops more prominently than type III. The correlation between MEDs and b* values may signify that the skin pigmentation status is deepened with the higher MEDs. The difference in b*/L*values between type III and IV skin reflects that the b*/L*value is thought to be an index of tanning. The a* value, known as an index of erythema, does not influence the degree of tanning.
Erythema* ; Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Pigmentation ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Skin Pigmentation ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Vitiligo

PURPOSE: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia is defined as hypocalcemia developed after postnatal 3 days and associated with hypoparathyroidism, high phosphate diets and vitamin D deficiency. We experienced the increment of neonatal late onset hypocalcemia over 1 year. We tried to evaluate the relationship between late onset hypocalcemia and maternal hypovitaminosis D. METHODS: The medical records in the neonates with late-onset hypocalcemia during January 2007 to July 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Among those patients, 17 paired sera of mothers and neonates had collected. The levels of 25-OH vitamin D (25OHD) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured and were compared with neonate and the mother. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 38+1 weeks, and the mean body weight was 2,980 g. The onset time of hypocalcemia was 5.9 days of age. Most of them (88.2%) were feeding with formula and no one was only breast milk feeding. Of the 17 patients, 13 were born in spring or in winter. The median levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH and 25OHD were 7.0 mg/dL, 8.6 mg/dL, 191.0 U/L, 57.2 pg/mL and 24.0 ng/mL in neonates. The levels of 25OHD of 6 neonates were <20 ng/mL. A total of 16 mothers were considered vitamin D-deficient (<20 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficient (20<25OHD<30 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia in our study seems to be influenced by maternal vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Sun tanning and vitamin D supplements from winter to spring would be helpful to prevent maternal vitamin D deficiency, one of the causes of neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Diet ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia* ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phosphorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Solar System ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins

Folliculitis is an inflammatory disease that has various causes. It has been widely reported to be caused by exposure to industrial oil such as cutting oil and diesel oil. A 39-year-old man presented with multiple diffuse erythematous papules with a follicular distribution on the anterior chest, back and shoulder. The histopathologic findings of the papules showed follicular epithelial destruction and a perifollicular inflammatory cellular infiltration. He was diagnosed as having folliculitis. The distribution of lesions matched with the area of tanning oil application was identical to that of the patient's applying tanning oil before the development of skin lesions. We report here on a case of folliculitis due to applying tanning oil. Tanning oil caused the follicular occlusion and dilatation in hairless mice in one experiment.
Adult ; Animals ; Dilatation ; Folliculitis ; Humans ; Industrial Oils ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Tanning ; Thorax ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

Chromium is a transition metal and has been shown to elicit contact dermatitis. Although leather products have been known to be the most significant source of chromium exposure these days, the majority of reports have been related to exposure from shoe products. We herein report a professional golfer who became allergic to golf gloves made of chromium-tanned leather. A 27-year-old woman golfer presented with recurrent, pruritic, erythematous plaques that had been occurring on both hands for several years. The lesions developed whenever she had worn golf gloves for an extended period of time, especially during tournament season. To identify the causative agent, patch tests were performed and the results demonstrated a strong positive reaction to potassium dichromate 0.5% and to her own glove. The amount of chromium in her golf glove was analyzed to be 308.91 ppm and based on this, a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis due to a chromium-tanned leather glove was made. She was treated with oral antihistamines combined with topical steroids and advised to wear chromium-free leather gloves. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a six month follow-up period.
Adult ; Chromium ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Golf ; Hand ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Potassium Dichromate ; Recurrence ; Seasons ; Shoes ; Steroids ; Tanning

Dimethylformamide ; poisoning ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Tanning

BACKGROUND: The erythemal and tanning responses of the skin to UV radiations, which are used as diagnostic phototest and guideline of phototherapy, are different, depending on the races and light sources. Minimal erythema dose (MED), barely perceptible minimal melanogenic dose (MMDb) and well-defined border minimal melanogenic dose (minimal melanogenic dose, MMDw) of broad band UVA (BBUVA), UVA-1, broad band UVB (BBUVB), and narrow band UVB (NBUVB) have not yet been reported. Therefore this study was undertaken to measure the MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA, UVA-1, BBUVB and NBUVB radiation. METHODS: Ten healthy Korean volunteers were recruited. Four volnuteers were Fizpatrick skin type III and six were IV. In this study, a metal halide lamp (SUPUVASUN 3000) was used as the BBUVA and UVA-1 light sources, a fluorescent blacklight lamp (Philips TL 20W/12 UVB lamp) as the BBUVB, and a fluorescent blacklight lamp (Philips TL 20W/01) as the NBUVB. The MED, MMDb and MMDw of the skin were visually assessed 24 hours and 7 days after irradiation. RESULTS: 1. BBUVA MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA were 53.0+/-8.2J/cm2 (mean+/-S.D.), 38.0+/-7.8J/cm2, and 51.0+/-8.7J/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in Fitzpatrick skin phototype III (FST III) were 50.0+/-8.1J/cm2, 35.0+/-5.7J/cm2, and 47.5+/-5.0J/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST IV were 55.0+/-8.3J/cm2, 40.0+/-8.9J/cm2, and 53.3+/-10.3J/cm2, respectively. 2. UVA-1 MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA were 58.0+/-9.1J/cm2, 40.0+/-4.7J/cm2, and 54.0+/-9.6J/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST III were 52.5+/-9.5J/cm2, 37.5+/-5.0J/cm2, and 52.5+/-12.5J/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST IV were 61.6+/-7.5J/cm2, 41.6+/-4.0J/cm2, and 55.0+/-8.3J/cm2, respectively. 3. BBUVB MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA were 52.0+/-12.2mJ/cm2, 57.0+/-10.5mJ/cm2, and 69.0+/-11.0mJ/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST III were 42.5+/-5.0mJ/cm2, 55.0+/-5.7mJ/cm2, and 67.5+/-9.5mJ/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST IV were 58.3+/-11.6mJ/cm2, 58.3+/-13.2mJ/cm2, and 70.0+/-12.6mJ/cm2, respectively. 4. NBUVB MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA were 680+/-131.6mJ/cm2, 770+/-105.9mJ/cm2, and 910+/-99.4mJ/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST III were 650+/-129.1mJ/cm2, 725+/-125.8mJ/cm2, and 850+/-100.0mJ/cm2, respectively. MED, MMDb and MMDw of BBUVA in FST IV were 700+/-141.4mJ/cm2, 800+/-89.4mJ/cm2, and 950+/-83.6mJ/cm2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MMDb and MMDw induced by BBUVA and UVA-1 were less than MED induced by BBUVA and UVA-1, but MED induced by BBUVB and NBUVB was less than MMDb and MMDw induced by BBUVB and NBUVB. These results suggest that the erythemal and tanning response of the skin to UV radiations are different, depending on the UV wave length.
Continental Population Groups ; Erythema* ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Volunteers

Soluble compounds of chromium are widely used in industrial processes, including printing, photography, pyrotechnics, dyeing, electroplating, aircraft, shipbuilding, and leather tanning. Exposure in industry is generally via the inhalation of dusts and fumes. Ingestion of chromium (chromate or dichromate salt) has occurred accidentally in suicide attempts and during drug experimentation and may causes ulceration of the bowel, diarrhea, hemorrhagic diathesis, acute renal failure, and hepatic damage. Ingestion of hexavalent chromium com-pounds is considered to be one hundred times more toxic than the trivalent compounds. Chromium poisoning in children is an uncommon, potentially lethal form of poisoning which could possibly increase in incidence because of the resumed greater domestic distribution of dichromate in Korea. We report a case of ammonium dichromate inges-tion by a child that resulted in a healthy discharge.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aircraft ; Ammonium Compounds* ; Child ; Chromates ; Chromium ; Diarrhea ; Dust ; Eating ; Electroplating ; Hemorrhagic Disorders ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Photography ; Poisoning* ; Suicide ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Ulcer

Increased pigmentation of skin after sun exposure is a normal response to solar radiation. Like sunburn, suntan can also be produced by natural solar radiation and by artificial, narrow-spectrum ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A sources. The tanning response is a sign of ultraviolet damage. The western search for the suntan has led to an increased incidence of photoaging and skin cancer of light-skinned individuals. Photoaging is characterized by wrinkling, coarseness, dryness, mottled pigmentation, loss of elasticity, easy bruising, telangiectasias, and benign, premalignant and malignant growths on sun-exposed areas. Photoagings is a slow process, taking decades to become clinically apparent and even longer for all the manifestations to occur. Development of photoagings is determined both by genetic skin type and by the total lifetime radiation dose. Photoaging is more apparent in light-skinned Caucasians than in dark-skinned people. Although it is not possible to state what proportion is due to chronologic aging and what is due to photoaging, it has been estimated that photodamage may account for greater than 90 percent of the age- associated cosmetic problems of the skin. The proliferation of natural tanning and tanning salons should be discouraged by physicians. There is no safe tan.
Aging ; Elasticity ; Incidence ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solar System ; Sunburn ; Suntan* ; Tanning ; Telangiectasis ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning is frequently encountered in the workplace. Two workers lost their consciousness in an underground tank at a factory producing paper. The tank contained liquid mixture of used paper, sodium oxygenate chloride(NaOC1), and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate(NaSO3 5H90). A worker(worker A; 36-year-old man) entered tank to remove sludge. When worker A lost his consciousness, worker B entered the tank to rescue worker A, however he lost consciousness inside the tank. We discuss in detail the clinical features of this condition. Hydrogen sulfide poisonings have occurred in industries involving petroleum refining, the manufacture of heavy water, tanning of hides, vulcanization of rubber, and the manufacture of rayon. And it is necessary to stress the health education for workers and managers in these industries.
Adult ; Consciousness ; Deuterium Oxide ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide* ; Hydrogen* ; Oxygen ; Petroleum ; Poisoning* ; Rescue Work ; Rubber ; Sewage ; Sodium ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

BACKGROUND: The xenon arc solar simulator is the most commonly used light source in studies on immediate tanning, but there has been no report on the immediate tanning response in Korean skin induced by UVA from that source. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to measure the minimal immediate tanning dose(MITD) for UVA in Korean, brown skin. Methods: UVA irradiation was performed on normal back skin of twenty-six healthy Korean young adults, with increasing doses from 0.5J/cm2 to 4.5J/cm2 using xenon arc solar simulator equipped with appropriate filters. Visual assessment of MITD was done by two investigators. Results: The mean and standard deviations of MITD were 2.38+/- 0.65J/cm2 in 26 subjects. MITDs distributed from 1.0J/cm2 to 3.5J/cm2. There were no significant differences of MITD between skin type III and IV. Conclusion: Conclusively, we obtained the data on the MITD in Korean skin induced by UVA from the solar simulator. The results of this study may be valuable for the research into photomedicine and useful data for evaluating sunscreens.
Humans ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Sunscreening Agents ; Tanning* ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl* ; Xenon ; Young Adult*