Facial melanoses (FM) are a common presentation in Indian patients, causing cosmetic disfigurement with considerable psychological impact. Some of the well defined causes of FM include melasma, Riehl's melanosis, Lichen planus pigmentosus, erythema dyschromicum perstans (EDP), erythrosis, and poikiloderma of Civatte. But there is considerable overlap in features amongst the clinical entities. Etiology in most of the causes is unknown, but some factors such as UV radiation in melasma, exposure to chemicals in EDP, exposure to allergens in Riehl's melanosis are implicated. Diagnosis is generally based on clinical features. The treatment of FM includes removal of aggravating factors, vigorous photoprotection, and some form of active pigment reduction either with topical agents or physical modes of treatment. Topical agents include hydroquinone (HQ), which is the most commonly used agent, often in combination with retinoic acid, corticosteroids, azelaic acid, kojic acid, and glycolic acid. Chemical peels are important modalities of physical therapy, other forms include lasers and dermabrasion.

Background: Nevus of Ota is very common in Asians. Estimated male to female ratio is 1:4.8. Patients seek treatment early in life due to psychological trauma and cosmetic disfigurement. The creation of high power, short pulse Q switched lasers has recently provided tools for considerable therapeutic advances in the treatment of dermal pigmented lesions. Aims: To determine the efficacy and side-effect profile of Q switched Nd:YAG Laser (QSNYL) in fifty Indian patients. Methods: Fifty patients of nevus of Ota underwent multiple treatments (average 5 sessions) at monthly intervals carried out over a period of 2 years with QSNYL (Med-lite C6). Of the 50 patients, 2 were males; and the rest were females. Skin types treated included phototype IV and V. The response after subsequent treatments was documented through serial photographs that were taken before and after every treatment session. Response to the treatment was graded based on quartile grading scale. Results: Near total improvement was seen in 8%, marked improvement in 22%, moderate improvement in 38% and 32% patients reported less than 25% clearing of the lesion. All patients reported some improvement. Transient postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed in 4 (8%) patients, which cleared with use of sunscreens and bleaching agents within 2 months. No textural change or scarring was observed in any patient. Conclusions: QSNYL is an easy-to-perform and effective treatment in cases of nevus of Ota in Indian patients with few side effects.

Background: There is scarce published data on late onset vitiligo. All the studies showing association of audiological abnormalities have been done on younger age group of patients. Aim: To study the clinical characteristics of the patients with late onset vitiligo. Also, to investigate the audiological abnormalities seen in these patients and compare them with age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven consecutive patients developing vitiligo after the age of 40 were studied. These patients were examined for the audiological abnormalities, and compared with those seen in age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Results: Vitiligo started between 40 and 50 years of age in 68.02% of our patients. Vitiligo vulgaris was the commonest clinical pattern, and most patients reported onset of their vitiligo on the upper extremities. Fifty four had diabetes mellitus, 19 patients had autoimmune thyroid diseases, and 32 showed hypoacusis on audiometric examination. Eighteen controls (age and sex matched healthy volunteers) also showed hypoacusis. The difference in frequency was not significant (22.37% vs 18%, χ² - test, P > 0.05). The sensorineural type of audiologic impairment was more commonly seen both in patients as well as in controls. Conclusion: Late onset vitiligo was not found to have statistically significant association with audiological abnormalities in this study.

Background: Skin tags (STs), are papillomas commonly found in the neck and in the axillae of middle-aged and elderly people. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex of interrelated risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Epidemiologic studies of different ethnic populations have indicated that hyperleptinaemia and leptin resistance are strongly associated with MS. Aim: To study the possible relation of skin tags and leptin levels to MS guided by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria. Methods: This study included 80 participants, 40 ST patients and 40 apparently healthy controls. Age, sex, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), smoking status, fasting glucose level, insulin level and insulin resistance were estimated as well as cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, criteria of MS, and leptin levels. Results: The univariate analysis showed that WC, BMI, fasting glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and leptin levels were significantly higher in ST patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis between MS components and ST showed that only high triglyceride levels (OR 1.205/95% CI 1.044-1.391/P = 0.011) and low HDL levels (OR 0.554/95% CI 0.384-0.800/P = 0.002) were significantly associated with ST. Multivariate linear regression analysis of the predictors of high plasma leptin levels, showed that high triglyceride levels (OR 0.287/95% CI 0.410-3.56/P = 0.014), and low HDL levels (OR -0.404/95% CI -8.7 to -2.08/P = 0.002) were significant predictors. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that the presence of both ST and hyperleptinaemia in patients with STs may be associated with high levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL and this could suggest that changing the life style of patients with ST may have a beneficial role.

Background: Scabies is a highly contagious and intensely pruritic parasitic infestation. It is a re-emerging infection in the new millennium especially with HIV pandemic and a significant health problem in developing countries. Various treatment modalities have been used since time immemorial but the search for an ideal scabicide is ongoing. Aims: In this study, we compared the therapeutic efficacy of single application of topical 5% permethrin with oral ivermectin (200 μg/kg/dose) in a single-dose and a two-dose regimen in patients with scabies. Methods: 120 clinically diagnosed cases of scabies (>5 years of age and/or >15 kg) were randomized into three treatment groups A, B, C of 40 patients each; receiving either topical 5% permethrin (group A) or oral ivermectin (200 μg/kg/dose) in a single dose (group B) or double dose regimen (group C) repeated at 2 weeks interval. Patients were followed up at 1, 2, and 4 weeks interval. At each visit, cure rate (>50% improvement in lesion count and pruritus and negative microscopy) was assessed and compared. Results: Cure rate in three treatment groups at the end of 4 weeks was 94.7% (A), 90% (B), 89.7%(C), and thus all three treatment modalities were equally efficacious. However, at 1 week follow up, group A patients reported better improvement in both lesion count and pruritus. Conclusions: Both permethrin and ivermectin in both single and two dose regimen are equally efficacious and well tolerated in scabies. However, permethrin has a rapid onset of action.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease and generally affects children under 15 years of age. Adult onset form and cutaneous features at presentation are uncommon. There are some options for treatment of the skin lesions of LCH such as topical and intralesional corticosteroid, nitrogen mustard, etc., which are not completely curative. Herein, we report a case of perianal LCH in a 20-year-old man with one-year history of recalcitrant well-demarcated, erythematous, and ulcerated plaque surrounding the anal orifice, with pain and difficulty in defecation that was successfully treated with thalidomide.

White piedra is a rare fungal infection of hair and is reported to be all the more rare on scalp. Trichosporon inkin is usually associated with white piedra of pubic hair. We report a case of white piedra of scalp hair caused by T. inkin. This is the first case reported from India and the fifth case reported worldwide. A 50-year-old Muslim female presented with white knots over scalp hair. Diagnosis of Trichosporon was made by examining KOH mounts of epilated hair and Lactophenol Cotton Blue preparations of the growth in culture. Automated mini-API test (for biochemical profiles) and Electronmicroscopy studies (for cell wall structures) helped in identification of the species. Mini-API test was also positive for Cryptococcus curvatus which could be due to similarity in biochemical and physiological properties of the two species. Absence of C. curvatus on culture further supports this view. Topical antifungal therapy resulted in clinical clearance within 2 months. Higher incidence of scalp white piedra is observed in Muslim females; contributing factor being the custom of using a veil, leading to higher humidity and limited sunlight exposure.

Plexiform schwannoma is a rare neurogenic tumor, arising from skin and subcutaneous tissue. The presence of multiple schwannomas suggests a possible association with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). A 50-year old male patient presented with multiple papulo-nodular cutaneous lesions on both arms and forearms. Histopathological examination revealed a dermal multinodular pattern of well-circumscribed masses of closely packed cells, with peripheral myxoid tissue, well-encapsulated in a thin collagenous capsule. S-100 immunohistochemical staining was diffusely and strongly positive. Neuron-specific enolase was positive, confirming a neural tissue tumor. An audiogram and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of cerebro-pontine angle showed no detected abnormality, excluding acoustic neuroma. Thus, we present a case of multiple bilateral isolated cutaneous plexiform schwannomas, not associated with NF2. Multiple plexiform schwannomas is a very rare entity, distinct from neurofibromatosis (NF), and being confined to the dermis is even more rarely reported.

A large pedigree of progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma is reported. The proband was a 22-year-old male with generalized asymptomatic lesions characterized by symmetrical well-demarcated erythematous hyperkeratotic plaques mainly distributed on the extremities. The proband's parents were also affected, and they were first cousins. Thus, a case of familial progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma is described.

Localized bullous pemphigoid occurs in less than one-third of the cases of bullous pemphigoid and it usually appears on the shins. Localized bullous pemphigoid around a stoma site is very uncommon, with few reports in the literature. We report a case of localized bullous pemphigoid at urostomy site and we review its main characteristics. We highlight the importance of considering bullous pemphigoid in chronic bullous lesions on peristomal skin.

An 8-week-old infant presented with 7 weeks history of nail involvement and discoloration. Lesions started over the middle fingernail of right hand at 1 week of age, spreading over to other nails within 2 weeks. Only two nails of the feet were spared. On KOH examination, fungal hyphae were seen and culture showed growth of Trichophyton rubrum. The purpose is to report the earliest case of onychomycosis having multiple nail involvement of fingers and toes (18 nails).