Vibration Anesthesia for Pain Reduction During Intralesional Steroid Injection for Keloid Treatment.

Background: Patients suffer significant pain during intralesional steroid injection treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Vibration anesthesia has been shown to effectively and safely alleviate pain sensations, likely by reducing pain transmission from peripheral receptors to the brain.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction associated with vibration anesthesia for reducing pain during intralesional corticosteroid injection.

Treatment of hesitation marks on the forearm by the pinhole method.

Scars from self-inflicted wounds, referred to as "hesitation marks," are usually linear, flat, poorly oriented, white in color, and often located on the forearm. Many patients do not undergo treatment for these due to limited available modalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the pinhole method using a 10,600 nm carbon dioxide (CO2) laser for treating hesitation marks on the forearm.

Treatment of periorbital syringoma by the pinhole method using a carbon dioxide laser in 29 Asian patients.

Background: Pinhole method has been used to treat various types of scars and dermal tumors by making multiple small holes in target tissues of the deep dermis using an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.

Objectives: We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of using a CO2 laser to treat periorbital syringomas via the pinhole method.

Methods: A total of 29 patients with periorbital syringomas were treated with two sessions of CO2 laser treatment using the pinhole method at two-month intervals.

Treatment of hypertrophic burn scars by combination laser-cision and pinhole method using a carbon dioxide laser.

Background: Hypertrophic burn scars induce cosmetic and functional complications. Although there are various treatment modalities, an ideal method has not yet been found. Recently, numerous laser treatment modalities have been introduced with encouraging results.

A patient with cupping-related post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation successfully treated with a 1,927 nm thulium fiber fractional laser.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a rare complication following cupping therapy. We report a case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with hyper-pigmented skin lesions on her lower back which was persistent for 6 months following cupping therapy. The 1,927 nm thulium fiber laser (Fraxel re:store Dual, Solta Medical Inc.

Ablative non-fractional lasers for atrophic facial acne scars: a new modality of erbium:YAG laser resurfacing in Asians.

Atrophic facial scars which commonly occur after inflammatory acne vulgaris can be extremely disturbing to patients both physically and psychologically. Treatment with fractional laser devices has become increasingly popular, but there has been disappointment in terms of effectiveness. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of ablative full-face resurfacing on atrophic acne scars in the Korean population.

Combination of 595-nm pulsed dye laser, long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser, and microdermabrasion treatment for keratosis pilaris: retrospective analysis of 26 Korean patients.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) has beenpresented as small keratotic follicular papules with or without surrounding erythema. Various treatments with laser or light therapy have been used for the management of KP with various clinical outcomes. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy for KP.

Use of fractionated microneedle radiofrequency for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris in 18 Korean patients.

Background: Nonablative radiofrequency (RF) devices have been shown to be clinically effective for the treatment of moderate to severe acne lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fractionated microneedle RF device in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris.

Methods: Eighteen patients (15 male, 3 female; mean age 27, range: 19-33; Fitzpatrick skin type IV) with moderate to severe acne vulgaris who were treated with two sessions of fractionated microneedle RF at 1-month intervals were enrolled in this study.

Treatment of burn scar using a carbon dioxide fractional laser.

In Asian patients, ablative laser therapies are seldom used to treat burn scars due to posttreatment dyschromia, especially when nonfacial areas are treated. The non-ablative 1550-nm erbium-doped fractional photothermolysis system, although effective, requires multiple treatment sessions. In the authors hands, a 34-year-old Korean woman achieved improved atrophy, contracture, texture and color of a burn scar on her chest after two treatments spaced six weeks apart with an ablative 10,600 nm CO2 fractional laser system (Ultrapulse Encore Laser, Lumenis Inc.

Scar characteristics and treatment expectations: a survey of 589 patients.

Background: Scar tissue formation by skin injury is common and patients need treatments for cosmetic or functional improvement.

Objective: To determine the relationship between various characteristics of scars and patients' treatment expectations.

Methods: The subjects were patients who had one or more scars regardless of their intention for treatment between August 2007 and February 2008.

The efficacy and safety of 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser for acne scars in Asian patients.

Background: The nonablative 1,550-nm erbium-doped fractional photothermolysis system (FPS) has been effectively used for scar treatments, but it seems that several sessions of treatment must be delivered to achieve satisfactory improvement.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined use of two treatment modes of an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser system (CO(2) FS) on acne scars.

Methods: Twenty Korean patients with atrophic acne scars treated with a single session of Ultrapulse Encore laser (Lumenis Inc.

Pigmentary disorders in the South East.

In this article, new information is introduced regarding vitiligo and melasma based on clinical studies of Korean patients and specific pigmentary disorders that occur in Asians. These disorders can be psychologically distressing because of their visible nature. They are especially resistant to various kinds of conventional treatments and tend to have a chronic progression that makes patients doubt the results and the prognosis.

Human papillomavirus type 59 identified in a verrucous cyst of the flank.

The verrucous cyst is a non-plantar epidermoid cyst with histopathological features of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, including papillomatosis and hypergranulosis of the cyst lining. We report the first case of a verrucous cyst demonstrating not only the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of HPV infection, but also homology with HPV type 59 on HPV genotyping. A 28-year-old male developed a palpable mass in his right flank.