The effects of acyclovir 5% cream and silver sulphadiazine 1% cream were compared in 2 groups of patients of herpes zoster. Acyclovir cream was more beneficial only when used within the first 3 days or when the lesions were still predominantly papular. In the later stages silver sulphadiazine cream was effective.

A microbiological study was conducted on 100 men with penile ulcers. Thirty eight cases with infection due to H ducreyi, 12 cases with Treponemal infection, 3 with Herpes and 2 with Calymmatobacterium granulomatis were detected. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from 2 cases with ulcer confluent with the urinary meatus. Mixed infections were identified in 17 cases. No cause of ulceration could be found in 26 cases. A polymicrobial flora was identified in the ulcers of all patients. A past history of penile ulcers was more common in patients who were HIV antibody positive.

Exposure to UVA following oral psoralens for the treatment of psoriasis is associated with systemic side effects which are absent if bath water delivery of psoralens is practiced. We have compared the relative therapeutic effectiveness of these 2 modes of drug delivery in skin types IV and V. To date all such studies have been done only in skin types I, II and III. Bath PUVA although relatively expensive is an effective and acceptable mode of drug delivery.

Dyskeratotic cells were seen in mid epidermis in a biopsy specimen taken from the herald patch of pityriasis rosea. No virus like particles were seen.

A 6-year old boy having congenital sensory neuropathy and partial anhidrosis is reported. The patient had some unusual features like absence of mental retardation and deep tendon reflexes and a distal type of sensory loss. Nomenclature of the disease is discussed.

Twenty five cases of pityriasis versicolor and 25 cases of pityrosporum folliculitis were selected for this study. Skin scrapings in 10% potassium hydroxide showed spores and hyphae in all 25 cases of PV. Smears from PF showed Gram positive spores in all 25 cases and in addition few short hyphae in 3 cases. Initially IgM and Later both IgM and IgG were raised. Similar response was seen in PF initially and later IgM, IgG and IgA all were raised in PF. Though antibody levels were slightly higher in PF, yet basically the pattern was similar in PV and PF.

Twenty five cases each of pityriasis versicolor (PV) and pityrosporum folliculitis (PF) were selected for this study. Histopathologically in PV, spores and hyphae in spaghetti and meatball appearance in stratum corneum, and perivascular mononuclear infiltrate were seen. In PF, spores were inside the dilated hair follicles filled with keratin, perifollicular and perivascular mononuclear infiltration were seen. Basket weave hyperkeratosis, edema and disruption of collagen were seen in 88% cases of PF and have not been reported earlier.

A peculiar skin lesion characterized by hyperpigmented, dry, hyperkeratotic plaques affecting the lower thirds of the thighs was seen frequently in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is attributed to intermittent irritation secondary to a characteristic dyspnoeic posture often assumed by these patients.

A 60-year old man living in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) had air-borne contact dermatitis for last 10 years. He had never traveled to any other part of the country where Parthenium hysterophorus or Xanthium strumarium are prevalent but he used to cultivate chrysanthemums. Patch tests with standardized extracts of various plants revealed the strongest reaction with Chrysanthemum, while the reactions with Xanthium strumarium and Parthenium hysterophorus were also positive but milder. This seems to be a case of primary sensitivity to Chrysanthemum with cross sensitivity to Xanthium strumarium and Parthenium hysterophorus.

A 20-year old obese male patient presented with painful, soft, skin-coloured papules and nodules on medial side of heels. These lesions appeared only when the patient stood upright and disappeared when weight was taken off the feet. The condition was diagnosed as painful piezogenic pedal nodules. Obesity might have accelerated the development of these unusually large lesions.

A 9-month old female infant developed a non-healing deep necrotic ulcer on the tongue in apposition with the central incisors. There was no response to painful stimuli. Investigations revealed normal blood biochemistry, sweat, histamine and capsaicin tests. Nerve conduction studies and light microscopy of sural nerve and skin were normal. The child was diagnosed as a case of congenital indifference to pain and was treated with teeth extraction and plastic repair of the tongue. In next 2 years the child had recurrent ulcers of the tongue leading to fibrosis and shortening of tongue hampering the speech.

A 35-year old hysterical woman had persistent gross haematuria. She started developing painful ecchymosis 4 years after the onset of haematuria. The diagnosis of painful bruising syndrome was confirmed by intracutaneous sensitivity test and the patient responded excellently to cyproheptadine.

A case of a mild subvariant of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type II (mitis) is reported. A clinical scoring system to diagnose such cases in highlighted.

A 27-year old woman developed striae atrophicans on her left posterior axillary fold 25 days after daily local massage of fluocinolons acetonide 0.1%.

A 56-year old man had scleredema for 2½ years. He also suffered from chest infection and late latent syphilis. In addition, he had one firm oval yellowish-red plaque on the back which on histopathology was diagnosed as nodular amyloidosis.