Acne Scars

Br J Dermatol. 2009 Jul 14; Al-Refu K, Goodfield MSummary Background Scarring represents the single most debilitating aspect of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) in patients with cutaneous lesions alone. Despite this, there have been no studies which have attempted to classify the types of scars seen in this chronic disease. Objectives The aim was to classify the types of scars based on morphological description. Patients and methods Forty-five patients with histologically confirmed DLE were included in the study. In the assessment of the types of scars, the scars were scored initially according to their anatomical localization. Each anatomical area was assessed for the types of scars which occurred in these areas. Results Scars in patients with DLE were initially classified morphologically into six types according to the site of the scar and then each type was classified into subtypes according to the morphology of the scar. Scars were seen in the majority of the patients and scarring affected mostly areas including the scalp, other hairy areas such as the eyebrows, nonhairy areas, mucosa, fatty layers of the skin and the nails. This study demonstrated that scars may not only produce textural changes but may also produce pigmentary changes. It is possible that other types of scars may yet occur in DLE but have not so far been detected. Conclusions Early classification and identification of the types of scars in these patients may change management towards more aggressive therapy in those with continued disease activity, and it is possible that different types of scarring require different therapies.

J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2009 Jul; 67(7): 1499-502Larrazabal-Morón C, Boronat-López A, Peñarrocha-Diago M, Peñarrocha-Diago MEpidermolysis bullosa (EB) represents a group of mainly hereditary skin disorders, manifested by an exceptional tendency of the skin and mucosa to form bullae and vesicles after minor friction and trauma. Oral features include repeated blistering, scar formation, elimination of buccal and vestibular sulci, and alveolar bone resorption. The use of endosseous implants in the fixed prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with recessive dystrophic EB might provide a considerably better outcome than conventional removable prosthetic methods. This clinical report describes the fixed rehabilitation with 2 implants placed simultaneously with bone graft in a partially edentulous patient diagnosed with recessive dystrophic EB. The implants, with simultaneous bone graft, were placed to decrease the number of surgical operations required, avoiding soft tissue ulcerations and discomfort in the patient. This treatment option appears to be favorable for recessive dystrophic EB patients compared with other options involving removable prostheses, which irritate the oral mucosa.

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 May 21; Ulrich D, Ulrich F, Unglaub F, Piatkowski A, Pallua NBACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars and keloids are fibroproliferative skin disorders characterised by progressive deposition of collagen. Our study is designed to investigate the expression and concentration of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in different types of scars and keloids. METHODS: Total RNA from 19 proliferative hypertrophic scar samples of patients with extended burns (total body surface area (TBSA): 21+/-12%), 18 mature hypertrophic scar samples from patients after elective surgery, 14 keloid samples and 18 normotrophic scar samples was, respectively, extracted, and then mRNA was isolated. Besides, biopsies were obtained from non-scarred skin of the patients and extraction of total RNA performed. Relative mRNA expression of MMP 2, MMP 9, TIMP 1 and TIMP 2 was measured with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum concentrations of MMP-1, -2, -9, TIMP-1, and -2 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Patients with extended hypertrophic scars after burn trauma presented a significantly higher TIMP-1 concentration (p

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 May 21; Pfistershammer K, Petzelbauer P, Stingl G, Mastan P, Chott A, Jäger U, Skrabs C, Geusau ASummary A patient with a 25-year history of rheumatoid arthritis and a 3-year history of methotrexate treatment developed a generalized papular rash. The papules rapidly became necrotic and then resolved, leaving a depressed scar. The rapid course of lesion development and regression was reminiscent of pityriasis lichenoides. Histology revealed a nodular infiltrate composed of a mixture of pleomorphic large B cells positive for CD20, CD30 and CD79a, and of small T cells positive for CD3 and CD4. The T cells had a striking angiocentric distribution, with some of the vessels exhibiting fibrinoid necrosis of the vessel wall reminiscent of lymphomatoid granulomatosis. However, B cells were consistently negative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigen expression. A thorough examination excluded involvement of organs other than the skin. Thus, this patient was classified as having a rare form of an EBV-negative primary cutaneous T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in association with methotrexate treatment.