The origin of the term lichen and a review of its clinical forms from the nosological points of view have been discussed. Explanation of certain features of lichen planus lesions by adding descriptive terms made from it a big family. Examples of such terms have been revised. The addition of the suffix “old” or “Fication” add more burden to the term lichen.

The skin conditions having the term porokeratosis are reviewed. The correctness of labelling them as porokeratosis is questioned. Clinical, histological, ultrastructural features and premalignant potentiality have been discussed.

Association of psoriasis and vitiligo in two patients is reported. Different views on this association have been reviewed.

A heredo-familial study of patients suffering from adenoma sebaceum, a rare cutaneous disease-is presented. Previously similar study was done in patients suffering from epiloia, a combination of adenoma sebaceum, mental deficiency and epilepsy. The heredofamilial study of cases with adenoma sebaceum only, is not available in literature- The study revealed thatit is transmitted asautosomal dominant. The lesions donotap before 12years of age.

Intestinal absorption and fat excretion in stool were evaluated in ten psoriatic patients and seven normal subjects to Study the presence of enteropathy among psoriasis patients in India, a tropical country. The present study Demonstrated no significant abnormality in intestinal absorption and fat excretion in stool. As such, no significant evidence of naturopathy in psoriasis patient was observed.

Histological study of the biopsy material obtained from ten cases of donovanosis was done. Significant epidermal changes including epidermal hyperplasia and peutrophilic exocytosis were found to be constant features. Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, spongiosis intracellular oedema and marginal parakeratosis were rather variable features. The predominant cells of the granuloma were plasma cells and histiocytes some of which were laden with Donovan bodies. Presence of neutrophilic microabscess in the superficial areas was another fairly constant finding along with the sprinkling. Newly formed capillaries were always seen though the dense cellular infiltrate. The organisms inside the pathognomonic cells took bright red stain with Giemsa. The capsule was found to be PAS positive. There were plenty of reticulin fibres mostly coarse. Possibly these fibres were related to terminal scarring, so often seen, when lesions heal. Even though the histology appeared to be of diagnostic significance, it may be pointed out that it is easier to find the pathognomonic cells and the organism in tissue spread stained with Giemsa's or Leishman's stain than the fixed tissue sections.

A case of trichotillomania involving the eye brows and the right side bums occurring in a 25 years old man is described. The patient has a schizoid personality. His symptoms started after his two unsuccessful attempts at competitive examinations. At the same time the patient's wife had also become pregnant and the patient had ambivalent feelings about the child to be bom. He avtilscs hair at fixed time, between 12 mid-day and 3 p.m. First he gets some tingling after which he rubs and finally plucks hair. The term trichotillomnia is discussed and it is recommended that a more appropriate term be used, as these cases are seldom manic even in its broader sense. Anew term "emotional traction alopecia" is suggested.

We are reporting a male child with incontinentia pigmenti, the 4th case report from India and the 1st case from our institution with a review of literature. Disease is rare in males.

A case of scleredema in an adult male patient with a review of literature is presented. In the world literature approximately 225 cases have been described with a female to male ratio 2: 1. Because of the rarity of the condition and our patient is an adult is of special interest