Phototherapy: How does it work ?

Phototherapy is widely used in dermatology for the treatment of various skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, scleroderma and the list goes on and on. Different light spectrums, such as ultraviolet A (UVA), UVB, narrow band UVB…are used. Although poorly understood, suggested mechanisms are: Immune suppression (especially for UV): through immunoregulation by Langerhans cells,…

What's new in tattoo removal with lasers ?

Although tattoos are fairly easy to do they can be a challenge to remove. Why are lasers used for tattoo removal ? In the past tattoo removal involves tissue-destructive techniques including excision/grafting, dermabrasion, cryosurgery and electrosurgery. Although effective at removing the tissue pigments, these techniques often cause scaring, textural changes, keloids and permanent dyschromia. Lasers…

"Albinism": in fact a symptom part of Albinism and of a number of syndromes

Albinism is a rare genetic condition affecting around 1 out of 17000 individuals (can vary geographically). Albinism is characterized by severe and handicapping deficits in the visual system in association with a most variable hypopigmentation phenotype: visual defects include: foveal hypoplasia, reduced pigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium cells, misrouting of the optic nerves at the…

The role of blood vessels in melasma (chloasma, pregnancy mask): therapeutical implications

Melasma (Chloasma, Pregnancy Mask) is a common pigmentary condition and although it occurs more often in females and that hormonal factors may play a role, it is still incompletely understood. Clinically: In the lesions, telangiectasia (dilated broken blood vessels), tend to be present and melasma lesions have more vascularization when compared with the perilesional skin.…

Atteinte nerveuse dans la maladie Hansen (lepre): regardez les ongles !

La lèpre (maladie de Hansen) est une maladie de peau souvent ignorée et cette maladie infectieuse peut parfois affecter le système nerveux. Des changements non-spécifiques au niveau des ongles peuvent être retrouvés dans la maladie de Hansen. Les auteurs ont chercher à étudier les changements ungéaux dans la maladie de Hansen. Dans cette étude, des…

PDT (thérapie photodynamique) pour traiter l'acné dans la population asiatique

La PDT (thérapie photodynamique) agit en éliminant la bactérie Propionibacterium Acnes Un temps de contact court avec la substance photosensibilisante est suffisant (moins de 90 minutes contre 4 heures pour les indications conventionnelles). Elle est plus efficace contre les acnés papulopustuleuses (vs comédoniennes (rétentionnelles). Les phototypes II et III ont un risque plus bas de…