Therapeutic Effects of Saline Groundwater Solution Baths on Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Saline groundwater, collected from the east coast of Korea, has been shown to have protective effects against 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in the murine model. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of saline groundwater solution baths as a treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis were instructed to take a bath in saline groundwater solution for 20 minutes per day for two weeks. Evaluations were performed at baseline and week 2, including SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, corneometry, transepidermal water loss, visual analogue scale for pruritus, and collection of adverse events. RESULTS: Subjects showed significant improvement with respect to the SCORAD index, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, and pruritus at week 2 when compared with the baseline. CONCLUSION: Baths in saline groundwater solution may be an alternative therapeutic strategy for treating atopic dermatitis.

Parry-Romberg Syndrome Augmented by Hyaluronic Acid Filler.

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS), also known as idiopathic progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by loss of skin and subcutaneous fat of face, muscles, and bones causing unilateral atrophy. Most patients require only soft tissue augmentation although syndrome has varying grades of severity. In the majority of reported cases, it has been treated with surgical flap or autologous fat transplantation. However, these treatments need complicated surgical skills which take a lot of time and cost. Herein we report the first case of PRS augmented by hyaluronic acid (HA) filler in a 42-year-old female patient to suggest that HA filler could be a safe, simple, and even rational economic alternative to surgical treatment.

The Lateral Tarsal Strip for Paralytic Ectropion in Patients with Leprosy.

BACKGROUND: In patients with leprosy, paralysis of the facial nerve results in the lower eyelid ectropion and lagophthalmos as a sequela even when the leprosy is cured. Paralytic ectropion causes many functional and cosmetic eye problems, leading to blindness if left untreated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of surgical correction of paralytic ectropion, the lateral tarsal strip, in patients with leprosy. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2015, 40 Korean patients (44 eyelids) with paralytic ectropion who had visited Korean Hansen Welfare Association Hospital were treated with the lateral tarsal strip. Four-point patients' global assessment scale, local complications, and recurrence were assessed at the end of follow-up period. The average follow-up period was 12 months. RESULTS: In the 44 eyelids, recurrence was observed in 5 cases (5/44, 11.4%). There were no serious postoperative complications except mild size discrepancy of both eyes. Most patients were satisfied with the results and mean satisfaction scale was 2.6/3. CONCLUSION: The lateral tarsal strip is a simple, safe, and effective treatment method for the dermatologic surgeon to correct paralytic ectropion of mild to moderate degree in patients with leprosy.

Cutaneous Plasmacytoma: Metastasis of Multiple Myeloma at the Fracture Site.

Multiple myeloma (MM) can be defined as a malignancy with monoclonal plasma cell proliferation. A 66-year-old man presented with pruritic erythematous to purplish plaque grouped nodule with black pigmentations and purpura on the right forearm. The patient was diagnosed with MM about five years prior to the visit at our hospital. Erythematous plaque on his right arm grew rapidly in size over one month and appeared about seven months after the fracture surgery. Skin biopsy showed multiple plasma cell infiltration with monoclonality for lambda light chain, which was consistent with cutaneous plasmacytoma. The patient refused to be treated and died two months later. We herein report an interesting case of cutaneous plasmacytoma at the surgical site of fracture repair.

Eccrine Squamous Syringometaplasia Associated with Pelubiprofen Therapy.

Eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS) is a histologically distinctive skin eruption occurring predominantly in acral or intertriginous areas presenting as erythematous macules, papules or patches. The etiology of ESS remains unclear, but it is usually reported in patients receiving chemotherapy for various malignant neoplasms. To date, only two cases of ESS associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which has distinctive clinical features and pathogenesis, have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a rare and interesting case of ESS associated with pelubiprofen, a recently developed NSAID, which appeared after pelubiprofen therapy and resolved spontaneously after discontinuing the medication.

Hidden Pictures of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Psoriatic Lesions: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a multifocal proliferative vascular tumor involving the skin and other organ and psoriasis is a chronic cutaneous disease with papules and plaques with white scale. Development of Kaposi's sarcoma in psoriasis patients has been reported rarely. A 71-year-old man presented with multiple brownish to violaceous plaques on both feet and arms which were found 4 months ago. The biopsy confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma. The patient was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris 10 years ago and Kaposi's sarcoma lesions developed between psoriatic plaques. We herein report a rare case of simultaneous occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma and psoriasis vulgaris which need quite different treatment.