The study was designed to determine the common sensitizers in allergic contact dermatitis, to evolve a standard patch test tray for screening patients at our centre and to suggest allergens for multicentric trial in India. 212 patients (65 women, 147 men) were patch tested with a standard series of allergens (23 allergens of European standard series extended with lanolin, cresol and gentamycin). The frequent sensitizers observed were gentamycin (14.2%), potassium dichromate (7.1%), colophony (6.6%) and fragrance mix (6.1%). No positive reactions were observed for lanolin, quaternium - 15 and mercaptomix. Our standard tray will thus consist of all the allergens of European standard series except primin along with lanolin, cresol and gentamycin. Lanolin is included despite negativity as it was found to be the commonest sensitizer among topical medications in our previous study.

The study comprised of 50 patients, 45 males and 5 females between 20-58 years of age with genital herpes infection. The duration of the herpetic lesions varied between 1-10 days. The swabs taken from lesions were put up for virus culture in African green monkey kidney "Vero" cells.

From 1981 to 1992, 109 cases (90 females and 19 males) of pemphigus were seen in the Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital Tripoli, Libya. Age of onset of the disease varied from 17 to 85 years, while duration of the disease at the time of presentation varied from 3 days to 13 days. On the basis of clinical features and routine histological findings the cases were divided into various subtypes as : pemphigus foliaceus 65 cases, pemphigus vulgaris 34 patients, pemphigus erythematosus 5, herpetiform pemphigus 3 and vegetans type 2 cases. Three of our patients had diabetes mellitus preceding pemphigus, while 12 patients developed steroid induced diabetes. Significant secondary bacterial infection occurred in all cases at some stage of the disease while oral candidiasis occurred in 15 cases. Eczema herpeticum was seen in 4 patients, while 2 had extensive tinea corporis. One of 4 patients of pemphigus vulgaris had complete shedding of nail and 1 female patient had alternate phases of pemphigus foliaceus and generalized pustular psoriasis. The features in our cases of pemphigus foliaceus were somewhat similar to Brazilian pemphigus foliaceus and we had more cases of pemphigus foliaceus, almost exclusively affecting females.

Out of 200 patients suspected to be suffering from contact dermatitis due to toilet soaps, patch tests were found to be positive in 158 patients (79%). The contact sensitivity was more frequently seen with perfumed soaps (48%) followed by non perfumed ordinary soaps (32%), glycerin soaps (8.2%), Herbal soaps (5.0%), antiseptic soaps (4.4%) and baby (1.2%), predominently in females (80%); majority of them belonging to age group of 21-40 yrs.

Serum immunoglobulin levels were studied in 20 controls and 30 patients of lichen planus diagnosed clinically and confirmed by histopathology. The serum level of all immunoglobulins was raised as compared to normal controls but it reached statistically significant for lgA only (P

In Parthenium dermatitis, photosensitivity is a common feature. We studied the minimal erythema dose to UVA (2-18J/cm2) and UVB (30-70mj/cm2). MED to UVB was lowered in 9 cases but not detected in 1 whilst MED to UVA was seen in only 1 case. Reduction of MED to UVB is a definite indicator of photosensitivity in Parthenium dermatitis.

Development of cutaneous horns in lesions of congenital linear porokeratosis in a 65 year old lady is described.

A case of facial hemiatrophy of Romberg and Parry is reported. The patient had all the changes of the disease with an interesting change in EEG

A case of Sezary syndrome in a 56 year old female who presented with generalised erythroderma associated with pruritus and lymphadenopathy of 2 years duration is described. The disease was diagnosed by the presence of Sezary cells in the skin biopsy and peripheral smear. The patient was referred to cancer institute for further management.

A 5-year-old girl presented with verrucous plaques with ulceration and bleeding over posterolateral aspect of right thigh and with multiple compressible subcutaneous swellings over the entire right lower limb with lengthening of the same limb.

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with classical features in 2 sisters is reported. The mode of inheritance in these seems to be autosomal recessive; which is a very rare occurrence.

Two cases of subcutaneos granuloma annulare are reported. Clinical presentation was in the form of hard subcutaneous nodules; histopathology confirmed the clinical diagnosis. The cases were unique because of onset in adult hood, occurrence over unusual sites and absence of classical lesions of granuloma annulare elsewhere.

Perforating Granuloma annulare (GA) of palmar surfaces of both index fingers was observed in a 41 years female. Duration was 1½ years and papules were asymptomatic, yellow, firm, discrete, with central pits. FBS was 81 mg/dl. Histopathology revealed transepidermal elimination of altered collagen, foci of degenerated collagen surrounded by groups of mononuclears admixed with occassional eosinophil and giant cell in irregular palisade arrangement.

We are reporting a case of skin peeling syndrome, a rare disorder in which sudden generalized exfoliation of the stratum corneum occurs. Histopathologically, there was well formed subcorneal pustule filled with polymorphs and nuclear dust, considering this to be a varient of subcorneal pustular dermatosis, we have put the patient on Dapsone.

A case of Darier's disease with depigmented macules and extremely rare feature of the disease is reported. A familial occurrence of these lesions is highlighted. The probable pathogenesis and some unusual characteristics of these leukodermic macules are discussed.