Laser hair removal is one of the most popular laser procedures performed. Dark-skinned patients are the most challenging hair-removal patients because of the melanin found in both the hair and the skin. This article discusses options for hair removal that are safe and effective in dark-skinned patients.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis is usually a manifestation of disseminated disease, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis has also been described in some patients without evidence of systemic disease. Distinguishing between primary and secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis may be difficult as patients can be asymptomatic or cutaneous lesions may precede systemic involvement ...

This case report describes a case of Sweet syndrome (SS) related to use of furosemide in a 46-year-old female who was admitted for treatment of congestive heart failure. Three days after administration of furosemide, the patient had a fever and a skin eruption appeared on her wrists, forearms, and legs. ...

Accumulating evidence has indicated that different immune and inflammatory processes may be accompanied by up-regulation of the uPA/uPAR system. Moreover, it has been suggested that the fibrinolytic system participates actively in immune-mediated skin disorders, including atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). To study a possible role of such uPA/uPAR system in AEDS, ...

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease of unknown etiology, in which development of fibrosis, vascular insufficiency and inflammatory processes are prominent in the skin as well as in other organs. We studied the effect of photochemotherapy with quantitative echography in SSc. Dermal echo intensity and dermal thickness was ...

OBJECTIVE: To establish the anatomical site distribution of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in organ transplant recipients (OTRs) with regard to age and sex. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study of OTRs. SETTING: Patients who underwent organ transplantation in Sweden from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 1997, registered in the ...

Background: The titer of contact hypersensitivity (TCH) has been used to determine the degree of contact hypersensitivity in patients with contact dermatitis. The values have been found to vary in different individuals and also in the same individual at different times apparently due to the varying severity of the disease. ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: WHO guidelines classify leprosy patients for therapeutic purposes into paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy based on the number of skin lesions. An alternative system of classification has been in practice in Nepal from 1985 onwards, based on the number of body areas involved in patients of ...

BACKGROUND: The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis is colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. Reduction of bacterial colonization has been reported to be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of a combination of fluticasone propionate 0.005% and mupirocin 2.0% ointment twice daily for ...

BACKGROUND: Primary neuritic leprosy (PNL) is a rare form of leprosy where the characteristic skin lesions are absent. Investigations of apparently normal skin from the areas of sensory change have revealed microscopic evidence of nerve involvement. Clinical studies have found that a proportion of patients develop visible skin lesions during ...

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides is rare in Hong Kong and oriental data on the disease are lacking. METHODS: This is a multiclinic, 13-year, retrospective study to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and disease outcomes of 40 patients with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome seen in the Social Hygiene Service, Hong Kong. RESULTS: There ...

BACKGROUND: Hormonal factors have long been proposed to play a role in Behçet's disease (BD). Male sex, systemic onset, HLA-B51 positivity and a younger age of onset in BD are associated with severer disease, and the disease generally runs a milder course in women. Vascular involvement is more common, and ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: WHO guidelines classify leprosy patients for therapeutic purposes into paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy based on the number of skin lesions. An alternative system of classification has been in practice in Nepal from 1985 onwards, based on the number of body areas involved in patients of ...

We analysed clinical symptoms, gender, age and social relations among 57 patients for whom a final diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta was established. The study is retrospective and the patients were seen in our department from 1982 to 2002. We observed that the diagnosis was 2.8 times more common in females ...

BACKGROUND: An association of mental stress with atopic dermatitis is widely accepted. However, no long-term evaluation of psychophysiological reactivity over the course of disease has yet been performed. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether atopic dermatitis patients have an increased psychophysiological reactivity compared to healthy controls and in between acute and disease-free ...

During the period 1990-2002 in Himachal Pradesh, India, 103 new patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis were detected. Lymphocutaneous and fixed cutaneous varieties were the most common and seen in 49% and 43% respectively. Chronic non-specific inflammation without granuloma formation was seen in 46% skin biopsy specimens, 29% showed acute or chronic ...

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare entity of unknown origin and is not well documented, especially in Asian populations. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestation, diagnostic histopathology, clinical course, and response to treatment of cutaneous RDD in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This ...

The aim of the study was to assess whether Laser Doppler-recorded venoarteriolar reflex (VAR) response to hand lowering can contribute to differentiate primary from secondary Raynaud's phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin fingerpulp perfusion (PU) of each hand of 60 persons was investigated: 15 healthy controls; 15 primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) ...

BACKGROUND: A variety of nonablative lasers have been used to improve skin color and toning. Evidence of new collagen has been seen. Using blinded observer analysis of electron microscopic changes, we have documented the effect of a nonablative Nd:YAG laser on collagen production and its relationship to patient age. OBSERVATIONS: ...

BACKGROUND: The pustular skin lesions of Behcet's syndrome (BS) are clinically and histopathologically similar to ordinary acne, but BS patients get lesions at sites not commonly involved in acne, such as the legs and arms. The microbiology of these lesions has not been studied adequately. OBJECTIVE: To make a detailed ...

A 35-year-old Asian woman was referred to the dermatology clinic with a 2-week history of enlarging, fluid-filled, pruritic lesions on the right foot. The affected area had a recent history of minor trauma for which the patient applied an over-the-counter propolis ointment. At presentation, the patient was also noted to ...

PURPOSE: Cutaneous features of dermatomyositis (DM) strongly suggest that ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, the incidence and the nature of photosensitivity in this disorder have not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the UVB (290-320 nm) minimal ...

The "marriage" or union of aggressive truncal liposuction with modified abdominoplasty techniques has been applied by the authors to treat patients with abdominal deformities marked by lower abdominal skin excess, abdominal muscle laxity, and excess adipose tissue on the abdominal wall and in adjacent contours. In the appropriately selected patient ...

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is a rare clinical entity affecting patients with renal failure, often on chronic dialysis or after transplantation. The patient profile at risk for this debilitating condition is undefined. Lack of awareness of the condition has hampered epidemiologic work in identifying the etiology. We present four chronic ...

This study evaluated the peripheral leukocyte count and the presence of microfilariae in the body fluids of onchocerciasis patients treated with ivermectin. Fifty-three patients over the age 10 years were selected from Ipogun, an onchocerciasis endemic area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Before and after treatment, all patients received a parasitologic ...

INTRODUCTION: 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine or 2-CdA) is a purine analogue that has been used successfully in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). Moreover, it has been increasingly used to treat chronic lymphoproliferative syndromes and paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia. Cutaneous side-effects associated with this drug have seldom been described in cases of HCL. PATIENTS ...

A total of 1,030 patients, 40.2% men and 59.8% women, identified during the period of October 1998 to November 2002 as having cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), were studied; 1,431 lesions were identified in the 1,030 patients. One lesion was present in 80.7% of the patients. The size of the lesions (longest ...

OBJECTIVES: To perform a retrospective review in patients undergoing urologic operations during a 10-year period. Patient positioning is important before surgery to avoid pressure sores and other iatrogenic injuries. The reported risk factors have included a long operative time, diabetes, and malignancy. We have noted skin breakdown in patients placed ...

Our aim was to quantify and qualify the use of complementary medicine (CM) by patients referred to our contact dermatitis clinic in Leicester, UK. A face-to-face structured questionnaire study was made of 109 consecutive patients referred to the contact dermatitis clinic. 109 such questionnaires were completed. 21/109 (20%) of patients ...

BACKGROUND: Measurement of skin involvement is essential for diagnosis and prognosis in systemic sclerosis. Assessment by palpation skin score is the current method. OBJECTIVE: To explore high frequency ultrasound as an objective method to improve skin characterisation by combining measurements of skin thickness and echogenicity. METHODS: Skin thickness and echogenicity ...

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic vasculitis histologically characterized by small-vessel involvement. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (especially anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies) (MPO-ANCA) are often positive in serum. Although the skin is affected in 20-70% of patients, the precise description has been limited. This retrospective study analyzed clinical manifestations in patients of MPA with ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) can arise frequently as a late complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Patients with extensive disease to date require intensive and long-term immuno-suppression. We aimed to share our single center experience using extracorporeal photoimmunotherapy (ECP) in our steroid refractory extensive cGVHD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ...

The authors' experience using intense pulsed light for skin rejuvenation is summarized and analyzed with regard to its efficacy, safety, and complications. Rejuvenation using intense pulsed light was performed on 59 patients over a 6-month period (January of 2002 to July of 2002); these patients served as the study group. ...

Home treatment with podophyllotoxin or imiquimod are commonly prescribed therapies for anogenital warts. It is important to ascertain if patients are locating all lesions for treatment and if they know when they are clear of them. We set out to assess patients' ability to determine the number and location of ...

This study describes the technical handling and the diagnostic evaluation of skin biopsies in order to standardize the assessment of the delicate morphologic abnormalities that are found in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissections (sCAD). Skin biopsies from 126 patients with sCAD and from 29 healthy relatives were analyzed. The ...

BACKGROUND: Benign pigmented lesions, including seborrheic keratosis, solar lentigines, melasma, and freckles, are common disorders, and various treatment modalities have been tried. We suggest a technique consisting of focal trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel applied by pressing firmly onto the focal lesions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of focal TCA ...

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is relatively common in cosmetic practise, yet it remains under-recognized. BDD patients are unnaturally concerned with minimal or non-existent flaws, most commonly in the skin (e.g. facial acne or scarring) and hair (e.g. hair loss). Many patients develop social avoidance and suffer occupational or academic impairment. ...

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is often chronic; its aetiology frequently being related to occupational exposure. Management of ICD involves persistent reduction in exposure to skin irritants such as water, detergents and prolonged occlusion by gloves. The aim of this study was to determine the severity of hand dermatitis 5 years ...

BACKGROUND: Annular lichen planus (ALP) is a long-recognized clinical variant of lichen planus, but is often considered uncommon in occurrence. The typical distribution and presentation of this variant have not been well described. OBJECTIVE: We sought to better define the sites affected and clinical characteristics of the annular variant of ...

BACKGROUND: Solar urticaria is an uncommon photodermatosis, characterized by the appearance of pruritic wheals after sun exposure. In this study, we examine the photobiological characteristics of solar urticaria in the heterogeneous group of Singaporean patients. METHODS: The photobiological features of all patients treated for solar urticaria at a tertiary dermatology ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic atopic eczema is not regarded as a precursor of malignancy, and, to our knowledge, there has been only one previous case report of CD30(+) cutaneous lymphoma in association with atopic dermatitis. OBSERVATIONS: We report 4 cases of CD30(+) lymphoproliferative disease in young adult patients with active atopic eczema ...

BACKGROUND: Papular urticaria caused by flea bite presents clinical symptoms of hypersensitive reaction accompanied by skin lesions. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease often go unrewarded, partly because of our incomplete understanding of the underlying immunopathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the immune response to the flea bite in patients with ...

OBJECTIVE: To study skin diseases and hypersensitivity to female sex hormones in patients with the premenstrual syndrome (PMS). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty women answered a questionnaire related to PMS and underwent gynecologic, dermatologic and laboratory examinations. Intradermal testing was performed with estradiol valerate, progesterone and placebo. Desensitization treatment was instituted in ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible role of honey, olive oil and beeswax in the treatment of skin fungal infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei were studied. After clinical evaluation of redness, scaling, pruritus and burning/pain sensation and mycological assessment, honey ...

To analyze the different clinical and histologic types of cutaneous vasculitis in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (SS), we investigated the clinical and immunologic characteristics of 558 consecutive patients with primary SS from our units and selected those with clinical evidence of cutaneous lesions, excluding drug reactions and xeroderma. All ...

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic yeast with a worldwide distribution. Although well recognized as a cause of cutaneous disease in immunocompromised patients, this rarely occurs in healthy hosts. In this article, we present the case of a farmer who developed cutaneous cryptococcosis at the site of an injury he sustained ...

A case of accidental skin injury caused by leakage of sodium hypochlorite solution from the rubber dam during root canal preparation is reported. After placement of a rubber dam and initiation of root canal treatment, the patient complained of a burning sensation with sodium hypochlorite irrigation. The complaints were ignored ...

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is a disorder characterized by dramatic thickening and hardening of skin in the extremities and trunk, which occurs in individuals on dialysis for renal disease. The pathophysiology is unknown. Increased transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and collagen deposition have been reported in a small group of patients ...

BACKGROUND: Perioral dermatitis (PD) is a common dermatological disease whose aetiology and pathogenesis remain speculative. Both cosmetics and topical corticosteroids have been implicated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 75 patients with PD and 125 randomly selected control patients with negative PD records were included in a questionnaire-based study focusing on cosmetics, their ...

BACKGROUND: Hand dermatitis is an eczematous inflammation of the hands that is related to occupation or to routine activities. It often becomes chronic, and in some patients may become severe and disabling. Topical corticosteroids are effective treatment, particularly for milder forms, but they often lose effectiveness with time and can ...