Data on alopecia areata therapy discussed by researchers at Osaka University
2007 OCT 16 -- Scientists discuss in 'Dry dermoscopy in clinical treatment of alopecia areata' new findings in alopecia areata. According to recent research from Osaka, Japan, "Although dermoscopy is conventionally utilized with immersion gel for diagnosis of pigmented tumor, we utilized dry dermoscopy, which is dermoscopy without immersion gel, for clinical treatment of alopecia areata (AA). The scalp skin and hair of a 38-year-old Japanese male, and 23-, 22-and 47-year-old Japanese females with AA, whose normal hair color was black, were examined by dry dermoscopy." "Exclamation mark hairs, short hairs, fractured hairs and black dots, all characteristic of AA, were detected by dry dermoscopy of the scalp of the 23-year-old female with ophiasis type AA. In the case of the 47-year-old female with round hair loss on the occipital scalp and diffuse hair loss over the fronto-vertical region, dry dermoscopy was useful for diagnosis of AA based on hair characteristic of AA. After she received corticosteroid pulse therapy with 500 mg of i.v. methylprednisolone on 3 successive days, her hair showed apparent regrowth and disappearance of the abnormal hairs characteristic of AA, evidenced by dry dermoscopy 1 month later. In a case of long-lasting AA in the 23-year-old female, we found a follicular plaque-like appearance at the opened hair follicle pores by dry dermoscopy. Histopathologically, the incompletely differentiated remnant hair shaft was packed in the follicular infundibulum. In addition, regrowing vellus hairs, which were difficult to clinically recognize, were detected by dry dermoscopy," wrote S. Inui and colleagues, Osaka University. The researchers concluded: "Dry dermoscopy is therefore useful for both diagnosis and follow up of AA." Inui and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Dermatology (Dry dermoscopy in clinical treatment of alopecia areata. Journal of Dermatology, 2007;34(9):635-9). For additional information, contact S. Inui, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Dept. of Regenerative Dermatology, Osaka, Japan. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Dermatology is: Japanese Dermatolgical Association, Taisei-Bldg., 14-10 Hongo 3-CHOME, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. Keywords: Japan, Osaka, Alopecia Areata Therapy, Alopecia Areata, Dermatology, Hair Loss, Immunology, Rheumatology. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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