Topical glycopyrrolate application appears to be significantly effective and safe in reducing excessive facial perspiration.

BackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the local and gradual transformation of terminal scalp hair into vellus hair, which has a shorter and thinner shaft. There are no studies that analyze annual changes in age, patterns, family history, and associated disease.ObjectiveWe investigated the severity of hair loss, age of onset, the frequency of family history, and past medical histories in Korean patients with AGA.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients with AGA referred to the Dermatology Clinic at Chung-Ang University Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010.ResultsThe age of onset was also gradually decreased from 34.1±10.1 years to 31.6±10.9 years between 2006 and 2010. In female patients, specific annual changes were not observed. Hamilton-Norwood Type IIIv AGA was most common in male patients and Ludwig Type I AGA was most common in female patients at all times between 2006 and 2010. The majority of patients with AGA had a family history of baldness and was most commonly associated with a paternal pattern of inheritance. Seborrheic dermatitis was the most common associated disease in male and female patients.ConclusionOur results show the possibilities that the average age of onset is decreasing. The period of the present study was only 5 years, which is not sufficient for the precise determination of onset age for AGA. Clearly, a long-term study is needed.

BackgroundAlopecia areata (AA) is believed to be an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which a mononuclear cell infiltrate develops in and around anagen hair follicles. There is no definitive therapy for AA.ObjectiveWe sought to determine whether the combination therapy of cyclosporine and psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) could be an effective treatment for severe AA.MethodsA total of 41 patients with severe AA were treated with oral cyclosporine and topical PUVA. Cyclosporine was given at an initial daily dose of 200 mg for adult and 100 mg for children for periods of up to 16 weeks. Eight-methoxypsoralen (Methoxsalen) was applied topically 20 minutes prior to ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure, and the patients were irradiated with UVA twice a week for 16 weeks.ResultsOf the total 41 patients, 2 (7.3%) patients were lost to follow-up, and 1 (2.4%) patient discontinued the treatment due to abdominal discomfort. Six (14.6%) patients were treated for less than 12 weeks. Of remaining 32 patients, 3 (9.4%) showed excellent response, 3 (9.4%) showed good response, 12 (37.5%) showed fair response, and 14 (43.7%) showed poor response.ConclusionAlthough limited by its uncontrolled character, this study shows that the combination therapy with cyclosporine and PUVA may be an additional choice for severe and recalcitrant AA.

BackgroundTreatments including intralesional corticosteroid injection, pressure therapy, cryotherapy, and various laser therapies have had limited success for keloids and hypertrophic scars.ObjectiveThis trial evaluated the efficacy of a combination of 578 nm copper bromide laser and the more traditional intralesional corticosteroid injection for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars with respect to scar color.MethodsKeloids or hypertrophic scars of 12 Korean patients were treated five times by the combined treatment at 4-week intervals. Clinical improvement was assessed by the physicians' global assessment (PGA) comparing pre- and post-treatment photographs, as well as 4 weeks after the last treatment. Erythema intensity was quantified using a mexameter.ResultsMost scars showed significant clinical improvement in PGA and decreased erythema intensity after 5 treatments. All patients showed improvements in symptoms like pruritus.ConclusionThe combined treatment is effective for keloids and hypertrophic scars, especially when the telangiectatic portion of the scars is prominent. The adjunctive use of 578 nm copper bromide laser decreased the telangiectatic side effects of an intralesional corticosteroid injection by reducing the vascular components of scars.

Tianeptine might play a role in suppressing catagen induction in a stress-induced AA mouse model.