Kwang Joong Kim

Treatment-Seeking Behaviors and Related Epidemiological Features in Korean Acne Patients

Little is known about the treatment-seeking behaviors of acne patients, especially Asian acne patients. This study was performed to obtain detailed information about the treatment-seeking behaviors in Korean acne patients. Patients who visited the dermatology departments at 17 university hospitals completed a self-administered questionnaire. Most patients obtained information about acne from doctors or the Internet. The most important criteria for selecting a treatment method or choosing a particular clinic were effectiveness and accessibility. Patients used traditional medicine, visited beauty clinics, drank more water, and used over-the-counter topical agents more frequently than they sought doctors during the worsening period. The degree of satisfaction in treatment was found to depend on the total cost of treatment, number of places visited, site affected by acne, and emotional stress. Those who had experienced a side effect tended to have been treated for longer, to have paid more for treatment, and to have an associated skin disease. Treatments prescribed by dermatology clinics had the lowest aggravating rate, although improvement rates for family medicine clinics were also fairly high. This is the first study to investigate in detail the demographic features and characteristics of the treatment-seeking behaviors of acne patients in Asia.

A multicenter epidemiological study of acne vulgaris in Korea

Backgroundu2002 Acne is a common skin disorder that affects both adolescents and adults. However, few epidemiological studies on this condition have been conducted in Asia.

Mucinous nevus with fat: an unusual case report and literature review.

Mucinous nevus is a rare entity classified as either cutaneous mucinosis or connective tissue nevi. Clinically, multiple papules or plaques develop at birth or in early adulthood and grow to form verrucous or nevoid feature with a unilateral or often zosteriform distribution on the trunk. Histopathologically, it is characterized by mucin deposits localized in the papillary dermis, clearly distinguishing this entity from other types of cutaneous mucinosis. A 18-year-old male presented with multiple, skin-colored, pinhead to pea-sized, grouped, flat tapped, soft papules on the back. This skin lesion was found accidentally 3 years ago with no symptom. Histologic findings revealed an acanthotic epidermis with thin elongated rete ridges and orthohyperkeratosis. In papillary dermis, fine collagen fibers were interspersed in an abundant ground substance that stained positively with Alcian blue at pH2.5. Herein the authors describe an unusual case of mucinous nevus and review the relevant literature.

A nationwide study of acne treatment patterns in Korea: Analysis of patient preconceived notions and dermatologist suggestion for treatment

Patients often have preconceived notions about acne treatments before visiting dermatologists. The aim of this study was to explore the association between patients beliefs regarding acne and physicians suggestion for treatment modality in dermatology clinics. A cross-sectional, nationwide multicentre study was conducted. A total of 1,370 patients completed questionnaires about beliefs about acne treatment before seeking medical care, and 101 dermatologists assessed their acne severity and proposed treatment methods. We found that patients had preconceptions in understanding disease characteristics, assessing subjective acne severity and preferring specific treatment modalities. Dermatologists determination of topical agents as first-line treatment was affected by disease severity and patients preferences. They were also more likely to prescribe isotretinoin even in moderate acne compared to oral antibiotics and topical agents. Selections of physical treatments and light-based therapies were affected by patients preferences, subjective self-evaluation and dermatologists assessments. Thus, we suggest that acne treatment strategies should incorporate both patients subjective perceptions and objective clinical practices into a management paradigm.

Study to compare the efficacy and safety of fluconazole cream with flutrimazole cream in the treatment of superficial mycosis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase III trial

Fluconazole, which is a drug of the azole family, is safely used in systemic treatment of oral and intravenous injection, but it is difficult to use fluconazole as a topical application because of its large molecular weight and strong hydrophilic property. This study is a multicentre, double‐blind, randomised, non‐inferiority study to compare the antifungal effect and safety of fluconazole cream 0.5% and 1% with flutrimazole cream 1% in superficial mycosis. A total of 162 subjects selected to participate in this study were equally divided into three groups and assigned to be given fluconazole cream 0.5%, fluconazole cream 1%, and flutrimazole cream 1% in the ratio of 1u2003:u20031. The primary index of drug efficacy was determined by complete mycological cure in which no fungus was detected on KOH smear test 4u2003weeks after application of fluconazole. The secondary index of efficacy was defined as complete mycological cure 4u2003weeks after the application of fluconazole, improvement of clinical symptoms and overall effectiveness assessed by the research staff. According to this study, on comparing the efficacy of cure of superficial dermatomycosis after 4u2003weeks of application, both fluconazole 0.5% and fluconazole 1% cream were found to be equally effective and non‐inferior to flutrimazole 1% cream. Given the effectiveness and safety of the drug, both fluconazole 0.5% and 1% cream might be said to be optimal concentration in the treatment of superficial dermatomycosis.

CD8-positive pityriasis lichenoides-like mycosis fungoides

ejd.2012.1701 Auteur(s) : Eun Byul Cho, Sung Hwan Youn, Eun Joo Park, In Ho Kwon, Kwang Ho Kim dermakkh@yahoo.co.kr, Kwang Joong Kim Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, 896, Pyeongchon-dong Dongan-gu, Anyang Gyeonggi-do, 431-070 Korea Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). Several atypical variants of MF have been described in the literature [1]. Pityriasis-lichenoides (PL)-like MF is a rare clinical MF variant, first described [...]

Clinical and histopathologic study of benign lichenoid keratosis on the face.

Abstract:Benign lichenoid keratosis is a cutaneous entity that consists of a nonpruritic papule or slightly indurated plaque that is histologically characterized by a band-like inflammatory infiltrate with interface involvement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathologic features of benign lichenoid keratosis localized on the face. Fourteen benign lichenoid keratosis patients diagnosed clinically and histopathologically in our clinic during the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012 were studied. Thirteen female and 1 male patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 46.5 years. The color of most of the lesions was brown (10 cases, 71%). The cheek was the most commonly involved area (10 cases, 71%). All of the lesions were single. There were 9 (64%) flat lesion cases and 5 (36%) raised lesion cases. Most patients denied having any symptoms; 3 had mild pruritus. The histopathological findings indicated that all the cases exhibited lichenoid inflammatory infiltrate obscuring the dermal–epidermal junction and vacuolar alteration of basal cell layer. The lesions showed focal parakeratosis (79%), melanophages (79%), hyperkeratosis (71%), and necrotic keratinocytes (71%). Solar elastosis (50%) and acanthosis (43%) were also seen frequently. Diagnosis of benign lichenoid keratosis should be made by a combination of clinical manifestations and histopathological findings. In particular, benign lichenoid keratosis should be considered if a middle-aged patient presents a solitary asymptomatic brown lesion on the face. We think benign lichenoid keratosis may be a specific disorder rather than the inflammatory stage of regressing solar lentigines, large cell acanthoma or reticulated seborrheic keratosis.

Effect of excimer laser treatment on vitiliginous areas with leukotrichia after confirmation by dermoscopy.

Leukotrichia is clinically common in patients with vitiligo, and dermoscopy is useful for finding white vellus hair. The use of phototherapy in the repigmentation of vitiliginous areas with leukotrichia is usually difficult because of a deficient melanocyte reservoir.

Xanthelasma Palpebrarum Treatment with a 1,450-nm-Diode Laser: XANTHELASMA 1,450-NM DIODE LASER

BACKGROUNDnVarious treatments of xanthelasma palpebrarum have been studied, including surgical excision, treatment with chemicals, and ablative laser therapy, but these methods have some disadvantages. Recently, nonablative laser therapy has been proposed as a treatment for xanthelasma palpebrarum.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo investigate the efficacy and safety of a 1,450-nm-diode laser in the treatment of xanthelasma.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnSixteen patients were treated using a 1,450-nm-diode laser. Fluences of 12 J/cm(2) , a 6-mm spot size, and a dynamic cooling device setting of 20 to 30 ms were used. One to four treatments 4 to 6 weeks apart were given to each patient. Photographs were taken before each treatment session and 4 to 6 weeks after the last treatment.nnnRESULTSnTwo (12.5%), eight (50%), and four (25%) of the 16 patients were scored as having some (20-40% clearing), moderate (40-60% clearing), and marked (60-80% clearing) improvement, respectively. Focal mild transient hyperpigmentation was noted in five patients. Post-treatment local swelling lasted 3 to 4 days.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe 1,450-nm-diode laser treatment is a new, valuable treatment option for xanthelasma palpebrarum, offering relatively mild side effects. Studies including long term follow up and a comparison with alternative treatment modalities are necessary to further assess the clinical utility of this treatment. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

Nodular colloid degeneration.

This report presents a case of nodular colloid degeneration in a 76-year-old man with a solitary facial lesion. The skin lesion was a yellowish indurated plaque on the left mandibular area. Histopathologic examination revealed the amorphous colloid material in the upper dermis. The Congo red stain was negative, no birefringence was observed under polarized light, and elastic stain showed positivity in both the colloid and the surrounding fibers. To the best of our knowledge, nodular colloid degeneration is a rare entity and has only been reported in published literature a few times in the last 8 decades.