Background: Onychomycosis is a common infectious nail problem but shares similar clinical presentation with some other noninfectious disorders, such as psoriasis and lichen planus. A correct diagnosis is essential to proper management. There are three common tests used in the outpatient clinic, including direct potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination, nail plate histology study, and fungal culture. Objective: This study aimed to compare the accuracy and feasibility among these three tests in the diagnosis of onychomycosis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients diagnosed with onychomycosis and had positive result of any of the three tests from June 2005 to June 2015. The age, gender, and results of the diagnostic methods were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 459 patients were enrolled. The positive rates were significantly different between nail plate histology study (93.0%, 427/459), KOH examination (67.3%, 309/459), and fungal culture (42.1%, 193/459) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Nail plate histology study has the highest positive rate in the diagnosis of onychomycosis than KOH examination and fungal culture. However, KOH examination is most inexpensive and is the fast way to obtain the result with moderate reliability. A combination of two or three diagnostic tests could provide useful information to the clinician to manage onychomycosis appropriately.

Background: The severity of chronic urticaria (CU) may be associated with the D-dimer level, and CU patients often have other autoimmune disorders. The autologous serum skin test (ASST) is believed to identify autoimmune/autoreactive diseases in CU patients. Aim: This study evaluated whether the levels of D-dimer, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and autoimmune markers, such as antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) and antithyroglobulin (TG), differ between ASST-positive and ASST-negative patients among CU patients. In addition, the study assessed whether these laboratory findings were related to CU severity. Methods: The study enrolled 54 adults with CU (16 ASST positive, 38 ASST negative). D-dimer, total IgE, autoimmune marker (anti-TPO and anti-TG), and thyroid hormone levels and the urticaria activity score (UAS) were measured. Results: The levels of D-dimer, total IgE, anti-TPO, and anti-TG and the thyroid function test result showed no difference between the ASST-positive and ASST-negative groups. The UAS was higher in the ASST-positive group than in the ASST-negative group, but the ASST-positive group showed a better treatment response. The UAS was higher in patients with an elevated D-dimer level than in those with a normal level. Total IgE was related to the UAS in only the ASST-negative group, and anti-TPO and anti-TG levels were not related to the UAS. Conclusions: There were no associations between the ASST response and the D-dimer level, total IgE level, thyroid function test results, and thyroid autoantibody levels. However, our findings suggest that the ASST response, D-dimer level, and total IgE level are potential predictors of CU severity.

Background: Striae gravidarum is a commonly occurred physiological change among women with pregnancy. Although these changes are accepted as physiological, the lack of therapeutical and preventive techniques led to impaired quality of life of women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of striae gravidarum on quality of life in a sample of Turkish pregnant woman population and the usage of cream/lotion to prevent the striae. Methods: Women with pregnancy whose completed 36 weeks of their pregnancy and admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient unit between March 2017 and August 2017 were included in the study. The severity of striae was assessed using Davey's score. The effects of striae on patient's quality of life were evaluated by Skindex-29 questionnaire. The usage of cream/lotion whether or not was also asked and recorded. Results: A total of 153 women with pregnancy were included in the study. Of those 43.1% (n = 66) was primiparae and 56.9% (n = 87) was multiparae. The prevalence of striae gravidarum in total, primiparae and multiparae was 75.8%, 66.7%, and 82.7%, respectively. There was a weak positive correlation found between the parity and severity of striae (ρ =0.190, P = 0.018). The emotion and symptom score of primiparae women with severe striae were higher than women without striae (P = 0.001; P = 0.028, respectively). The usage of cream/lotion was significantly higher in primiparae compared to multiparae (P < 0.001). The symptom and emotion scores of the women with striae those applied cream were higher than nonusers (P < 0.001; P = 0.038, respectively). Conclusions: Striae gravidarum may cause psychological and physical effects among women, especially primiparae women with severe striae and negatively affects the quality of life. Cream/lotion may be used to prevent striae development and reduce symptoms of pregnant women with higher emotion scores.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a prevalent cutaneous disorder that significantly affects patient quality of life. There have been several reports of successful acne treatment using lasers. However, few studies have reported the use of radiofrequency (RF) lasers for acne. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a noninvasive monopolar RF laser in the treatment of acne vulgaris on the face. Methods: A randomized, prospective, split-face study was performed. Eleven participants were recruited. Patients were treated with the RF laser on one half of the face and no laser treatment on the other half. Two treatments were performed at 2-week intervals. Patients returned for follow-up 2 weeks after the final treatment. Results: After 4 weeks, the lesion counts of papules, comedones, red macules, and the sebumeter measured values all significantly decreased on the treated area compared to those on untreated areas. In the photograph analysis, the grade of acne (using Cook's acne grading method) also significantly improved after treatment. Patients reported tolerable pain and mild erythema with laser treatment. However, there were no permanent adverse events. Conclusion: Treatment with the noninvasive RF laser successfully reduces acne lesions (papules, comedones, and red macules) and sebum secretion without severe adverse events.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by mutations of the ECM1 gene. The common variations of the ECM1 gene are nonsense and missense mutations, and in rare instance, compound heterozygotes may occur. We describe two siblings of LP from a nonconsanguineous family of China who were detected novel compound heterozygous mutations of c. 157C >T(p. R53X) in exon 3 and c. 857G >A (p. C286Y) in exon 7 of the ECM1 gene. Their mother was a carrier of missense mutation of c. 857G >A in exon 7 of ECM1, their father and one of the old sisters were the carriers of nonsense mutation of c. 157C >T in exon 3, respectively. All the carriers presented normally. The results support the opinion that the mutations of the ECM1 gene for LP are of varieties.

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions, and SJS/TEN in infancy is rare. Here, we present a case of a 4-month-old infant with generalized exanthema, flaccid blisters, and mucosal erosions. He was diagnosed with TEN within 2 days using a granulysin quick screen test and subsequently verified with histopathologic findings. Transmission of cephalexin through breastfeeding was suspected to be a possible cause based on drug history, breastfeeding history, and lymphocyte transformation test. The patient survived with only skin hyperpigmentation remaining.

Although biologic agents have emerged as the preferred strategy for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, sparing around injection sites may be an underreported effect and represent inadequate systemic efficacy with fair local response of biologic treatment for psoriasis. Herein, we report six cases of extensive psoriasis presenting injection site sparing at biologics administration sites.

Travel-related cutaneous diseases are very common, and among them, myiasis ranks in the fourth place. Hereby, we present a case of a 28-year-old Taiwanese woman infested by Dermatobia hominis during honeymoon trip to Amazonas region and Peru. The diagnosis was confirmed by extracting the larva intraoperatively. The epidemiology, distinctive life cycle, clinical features, auxiliary diagnostic tools, therapeutic methods, and prophylactic measures of human botfly infestation will be discussed in the article. Owing to the progressive increment of international travels and ecological explorations, raising awareness of tropical diseases should be more emphasized.

A 40-year-old female presented with rapid-onset generalized erythematous eruption with pustules agminated over the flexural areas and the flanks for 2 days. In skin histopathology, extensive subcorneal pustules, spongiosis and neutrophilic exocytosis, papillary dermal edema, and perivascular and interstitial mixed-cell infiltrates were observed. No psoriasis history but irregular intake of numerous kinds of Chinese herbal medications and the last-modified regimen including Radix Aucklandiae 14 days before the onset of pustular eruption were unveiled. Patch test showed positive result with only Radix Aucklandiae. Thus, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by Radix Aucklandiae was diagnosed.

Porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus or porokeratotic eccrine nevus (PEN) is a rare nevoid condition characterized by asymptomatic spiny, keratotic papules, and plaques in linear distribution along Blaschko's lines on the extremities clinically and discrete vertical cornoid lamellae at eccrine ostia pathologically. Keratitis–ichthyosis–deafness (KID) syndrome manifests generalized erythematous plaques with tiny papules and keratotic spicules. Both rare diseases are associated with mutations of the GJB2 gene encoding for gap junction protein, connexin 26. We present a case of KID syndrome in an 11-year-old boy. The patient presented with bilateral hearing loss, and large erythematous plaques with grained leather-like appearance and occasional keratotic spicules on the face and trunk as well as prominent hyperkeratosis on the acral parts, especially distal digits. Skin biopsy of two skin lesions revealed features of PEN. Mutation analysis of peripheral blood revealed GJB2 c. 263C>T (p.A88V). This is the first report of GJB2 gene mutation in a Taiwanese boy with KID syndrome. The histologic features of PEN in the present case provide additional support that PEN may be part of the manifestation of KID syndrome.