No abstract

Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive fat reduction method that is capable of reducing subcutaneous fat significantly without damaging surrounding tissues, by applying cold temperature to induce adipocyte apoptosis. Most of the clinical studies in cryolipolysis were conducted in the Caucasian population, and only a few numbers in Asian, who has darker skin with Fitzpatrick skin type III to V. Higher rate of pigmentary changes were reported with the use of cryotherapy in darker skin. Therefore, this report is aimed to provide a comprehensive review regarding utilisation, efficacy and safety profiles of cryolipolysis among Asians. Currently, there are only four clinical trials conducted exclusively in an Asian population. Two studies were conducted in Korea, whereas others in China and Thailand. Cryolipolysis was performed in the abdomen, arm, inner thighs, and submental regions. The reported side effects were mild and transient, including erythema, hematoma, numbness, and pain. There were no pigmentary changes reported. Although only limited data available, those studies have proved that cryolipolysis utilisation among Asians or darker skin types provides the same efficacy and safety profiles as in Caucasians. Therefore, cryolipolysis might be proposed as the first treatment choice for Asian patients who opted to do body contouring.

BACKGROUND:Melasma is a common chronic acquired hyper melanosis. It has significant impacts on appearance, psychosocial and emotional distress, hence reducing the quality of life of the affected patients. Melasma quality of life scale (MelasQoL) is a new quality of life (QoL) questionnaire consists of 10 questions, scored from 1 to 7, with higher index scores indicating poor QoL. The severity of melasma can be assessed by the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score.AIM:We aimed to determine the correlation between the severity of melasma (MASI score) and quality of life.MATERIAL AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional analytic study involving 30 subjects with melasma. The diagnosis was made based on history, clinical features and by Wood’s lamp examination. MASI score was determined to assess the severity of melasma. Subjects answered 10 items of MelasQol questionnaire. All collected data were processed and statistically analysed by Spearman correlation test to determine the association of MASI score with MelasQoL. Association of quality of life with clinical pattern and depth of lesion were analysed by Mann Whitney test.RESULTS:There was no significant correlation between MASI score and MelasQoL (p = 0.797; r = 0.049). Likewise, there was no association of quality of life with clinical pattern type (p = 0.12) and depth of lesion (p = 0.92).CONCLUSION:There was no significant correlation between the MASI score and quality of life.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder in pilosebaceous gland units, which affected more than 90% of teenagers, and half of them settled until adulthood. Inflammation is one of the four critical factors in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, and it could be a primary process or secondary to Propionibacterium acnes. The immune system has a various anti-inflammatory mechanism to counter-balance inflammatory mediators. One of the potent cytokines that play a role in regulating the inflammatory state is Interleukin-10 (IL-10). This study conducted to determine the association of serum IL-10 with the severity of acne vulgaris.Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytic study involving 33 subjects with acne vulgaris and 31 normal-healthy volunteers as a control. Both groups had their serum IL-10 measured. Acne vulgaris severity was assessed with Lehmann criteria. Anova was used to determine the statistical difference of IL-10 among different groups of acne severity. This study has been approved by the Ethical Committee Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara.Results: The mean serum IL-10 of normal-healthy and acne vulgaris subjects were 5,79 ± 1,23 pg/ml and 5,25 ± 1,55 pg/ml, respectively. Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference (p=0,029). The mean IL-10 serum levels according to acne vulgaris severity were 6,63 ± 1,94 pg/ml in the mild category; 4,89 ± 0,95 pg/ml in the moderate category and 4,38 ± 0,61 pg/ml in the severe group. ANOVA showed significant difference with p=0,001.Conclusion: There was an association between serum levels of IL-10 with the severity of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND:Skin tag is a benign tumour of the skin with a soft consistency which commonly occurs in the flexure area. Skin tag often found in individuals with middle and old age. Until now, there are many of theories have been proposed to explain the mechanism of the skin tag, one of the theory is obesity.AIM:To determine the body mass index (BMI) in patients with skin tag.METHODS:This study is an analytic study with cross-sectional designs involving 32 subjects with skin tag and 32 controls. Diagnosis of skin tag was made based on anamnesis and clinical examination. All subjects underwent a physical examination (height and weight) to determine BMI (weight in kilogrammes divided by the square of height in meters). To analyse association between higher BMI with the occurrence of skin tag we use student t-test.RESULTS:The mean BMI in the skin tag group (28.1+ 3.9 kg/m^2) was higher compared with the control group (24.1 + 2.3 kg/m^2). Statistical analysis by Student t-test found the p-value < 0.05.CONCLUSION:We found a correlation between increased BMI with the occurrence of the skin tag.