Acne vulgaris causes much emotional trauma, social embarrassment and cosmetic disfiguration in teenage girls and boys. The multifactorial etiology, pathogenesis and clinical features of this condition are narrated. The mechanism of comedo formation is briefly discussed. Recent concepts in the management of this chronic malady are critically reviewed.

Forty-seven cases of suspected plant dermatitis were patch tested with extracts of various plants. Twenty-six showed positive patch tests to one or more plant antigens. Parthenium sensitivity was observed in nine cases. Trianthema monogyna, Carissa, carandus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus spinosus, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia thymibolia, Salvia plebia, lantana camera and pennisetum typhoides were other important plants founds to be responsible for contact sensitivity. Majority of the patients were from rural areas and most of them showed exacerbation of the dermatitis during rainy season. Males and females were equally affected.

A case of oculodentodigital dysplasia is described with, some unusual findings like cutaneous keratotic papules , and Duane's retraction syndrome, which have not been documented earlier.

A case of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) in a 20 year old female patient is presented. The, case clinically resembled lupus causing bilateral ectropion and exposure keratitis in both eyes.

Localized scleroderma is an uncommon disorder. The clinical and histological features in 23 cases of localized scleroderma are presented. A rare familial instance of encoupde sabre is described. The concurrent lesions on en coupde sabre and discoid lupus erythematous in a 16 years female is reported. It is felt important to differentiate between the facial hemiatrophy associated with en coup de, sabre and Romberg's syndrome (progressive facial hemiatrophy).

A case of naevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficilis on the left sacro gluteo-coxal area in a 25 year old male is reported because of its rarity. The clinical features and hisoopathological changes of this condition are described. The possible factors regarding its predilection to the pelvic girdle region, the various theories regarding, its pathogensis and its differentiation from focal dermal. hypoplasia syndrome and grouped lesions of macular atrophy are discussed.

Porokeratosis of Mibelli is a rare hereditary disorder of the skin, The salient features in 6 cases are described with a brief review of the relevant literature. Involvement of the mucous membranes was noted in 2 cases. The clinical picture was quite variable and some of the lesions resembled tinea corporis warts and neurodermatitis. Histologically cornoid lamella was the pathognomonic feature. An attempt is made to explain the relative rarity of this condtition in females on the basis of hormonal factors.

Two cases of sebaceous gland adenocarcinoma arising from the scalp have been described. It is a rare tumour and has to be differentiated from sebaceous metaplasia occurring in a basal or squamous cell carcinoma.

The present study was aimed to assess the cell-mediated immune response under PHA stimulus in leprosy patients and healthy contacts. Twenty-one cases suffering from leprosy were included in the study. They were diagnosed clinically by skin biopsy,. smear examination and lepromin reaction. Five cases had lepromatous, 7 borderlines and 9 tuberculoid leprosy. Eleven were healthy contacts. Lepromin reaction was negative in 5 patients in lepromatous group while it was positive in the other patients and healthy contacts. Blastogenic transformation was depressed only in patients with lepromatous leprosy. In tuberculoid and borderline cases, lymphocytes exhibited similar reactivity with PHA as was shown by the controls. Healthy contacts of lepromatous leprosy patients were leprom'm positive and did not show any C M I depression. it is suggested that depression of PHA response may develop after the on set of leprosy infection.

Antigen-impregnated discs (AlDs) have been developed to standardize the amount of antigen used for each patch test and also to make, the test far easier. in the first experiment, 800 patch tests were applied using, AlDs prepared for parthenium hysterophours, nitrofurazone, nickel sulphate, Potassium dichromate, Mercurochrome, acriflavine, garlic and onion, and the, results were compared with patch tests done with the corresponding standard antigens applied at the same, time in the same patients. In 780 instances, the results were similar with both Mvi of materials,- the:discrepancy being seen in only 20 cases. In a second experiment, AIDs prepared for nitrofurazone, garlic,, nickel sulphate, Calotropis procera, Mercurochrome and acriflavine were each divided into 3 s and stored at room 'soup temperature. 10 C and 420C respectively to study the I stability of AIDS under different climatic conditions. The results of patch tests with each of these'AIDS were compared with the standard antigens prepared at the same time and kept at IOOC. False negative patch tests were more frequent with the standard antigens indicating that AIDS are stable for at least I year at room temperature even when the environmental temperature is as high as 429C.

To find out the incidence of hypersensitivity to antimicrobial drugs patch tests with various commercially available antimicrobial agents were carried out in 112 patients suspected of contact sensitivity to these substances. Eighty eight patients showed positive reaction to one or more drugs. H incidence of contact sensitivity was observed with neomycin (48%), nitrofurazone (460/o) and bromsalicyl chloranilide (45%), while gentian violet gentamicin and povidone iodine were found to be the least sensitizers (5%, 6% and 70/o - respectively). Multiple hypersensitivity (four or more drugs) was observed in 25 patients and a large number of them had ulcers at the time of study or in the past.