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A provisional diagnosis of urticaria pigmentosa was revised to lichen planus pigmentosus with dermatographism, after histopathologic examination of specimen from hyperpigmented patch. It is important to keep differential diagnosis of inducible wheals while making a diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Becker nevus (BN), a common nevoid hamartoma, presents as a hypermelanotic often hypertrichotic plaque localized to the chest, shoulder, or back in the first two decades of life. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate clinicohistopathological and dermoscopic findings of BN in the Indian population. Methods: Thirty-five clinically diagnosed cases of BN were enrolled. Sample characteristics, clinicohistopathological findings, dermoscopic findings, and developmental abnormalities were noted and an observational analytical study was carried out. Results: The mean age of the patients was 18.9 years and 28 (80%) were males. BN was present since birth in 12 (34.3%), developed in the first decade in 5 (14.3%), and in the second decade in 18 (51.4%). Common sites included the chest in 10 (28.6%), the face in 8 (22.9%), and the upper limb in 7 (20%). Hypertrichosis was observed in 24 (68.6%) and acneiform lesions in 2 (5.7%). Twenty-two (62.9%) patients had right-sided lesions. No developmental abnormalities were detected. Skin biopsy findings included hyperkeratosis in 25 (71.4%), acanthosis in 32 (91.4%), elongation of rete ridges in 32 (91.4%), basal layer pigmentation in 35 (100%), and smooth muscle hyperplasia in 4 (11.1%) patients. Dermoscopic findings included reticular brown lines (pigmentation network) in 32 (91.4%), perifollicular white color (perifollicular hypopigmentation) in 27 (77.1%), skin furrow hypopigmentation in 17 (48.6%), and focal hypopigmentation in 15 (48.6%) cases. Conclusions: Onset at birth and facial lesions are common in those of Indian ethnicity, while developmental abnormalities associated with BN are infrequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nail disorders account for about 10% of all dermatological conditions. Onychoscopy is useful not only for their diagnosis but also for assessing severity/progression and monitoring the response to therapy. Aims and Objectives: Describing dermoscopic features of nail disorders in patients reporting to the dermatology OPD of our tertiary care hospital and recording the sociodemographic profiles thereof. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 176 patients with effect from August 2019 to August 2021. Results: Males (99; 56.25%) outnumbered females (77; 43.75%); males: female: 1.28: 1; their mean age was 35.8 years. Fingernails were affected more oftener (84.09%) than toenails (38.64%). Onychomycosis, the commonest (58;32.95%) condition, revealed findings of aurora borealis pattern (75.86%), subungual hyperkeratosis (72.41%), and onycholysis with jagged edges and spikes (68.97%). The next frequent (32;18.18%) condition was nail psoriasis which revealed pits (81.25%); onycholysis (62.5%) and dilated globose nail fold vessels on capillaroscopy (25%). Limitations: The small sample size proved inadequate for the evaluation of statistical significance in the less common conditions and the correlation of disease severity of many. Ideally, confirmatory diagnostic tests should have been done in every patient, as indicated. The magnification of our dermoscopy was 10X; 20- and 40X permit better capillaroscopy. Conclusions: Onychocopy can minimize the need for biopsy by highlighting subtle changes and helps narrow down the differentials. It is potentially a diagnostic test of choice in younger children. Our study helped to grade the severity of connective tissue disorders and establish the benignity of melanonychia. Photographic documentation facilitates record-keeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A sustained inflammatory state of psoriasis causes comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and cardiovascular disease. Aims: To note the duration and severity of psoriasis, assess prevalence of MetS, and correlate these with indicators of sub-clinical atherosclerosis. Methodology: Thirty-two patients of chronic plaque psoriasis were enrolled in the study. Their demographic particulars, clinical details, results of investigations to assess MetS, and indicators of sub-clinical atherosclerosis, namely, carotid intimal media thickness (CIMT) measured using B-mode USG and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) using 2-D ECHO, were recorded. Results: The study participants were predominantly male (2.5:1); their mean age was 40.45 ± 12.42 years, the median disease duration (DD) was 2 years, and the mean psoriatic area severity index (PASI) score was 8.62 ± 7.49. Mild disease (PASI <5) was present in 12 participants (37.5%), and shorter DD (<5 years) was present in 16 (50%) participants. MetS, detected in 11 (37.5%) study participants, was not significantly associated with CIMT, EFT, DD, and PASI. CIMT and EFT too did not correlate significantly with DD, PASI, or measures of MetS. Neither did there exist any significant correlation between CIMT and EFT. Conclusion: Sub-clinical atherosclerosis in our study participants was not significantly associated with either measures of MetS or duration/severity of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the impairment of quality of life (QoL) in individuals with keloids is profound, it has neither been well quantified nor correlated with severity in people with skin of colour. This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study comprised 110 patients with keloid(s). A physician measured the severity of keloids using the Vancouver Scar scale and impairment of QoL using the patient-filled Hindi version of Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire. The relationship among QoL and severity score as well as with components of demographic data was analysed using SPSS. Our study found the severity of keloid(s) to be moderately but significantly correlated with the QoL of its sufferers. Individuals with multiple keloids were found to be significantly younger than those with solitary ones. Itching, pain, along with restricted mobility significantly impacted the QoL as well as severity of keloids. Individuals who had undergone prior treatment were found to have a worse QoL than the treatment naive. Recurrence was found to be associated with lower scar severity, multiple keloids, and younger age. Increasing age, though associated with greater scar severity, lacked any relationship with the QoL. Our study also found that individuals with bigger keloids sought treatment earlier and more often. Hyperpigmented keloid(s), more common in individuals with skin of colour, were associated with a significantly worse QoL and a higher scar severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The overall prevalence of vulvar diseases in the literature is low because of underreporting and is often neglected; thus, its impact on a female's life is often underestimated. Objectives: This study is aimed to determine the prevalence of vulvar diseases and their associated risk factors in patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and case–controlled study wherein all female patients attending the dermatology outpatient department (OPD) were screened for the signs and symptoms of vulvar dermatoses and were enrolled after obtaining informed consent and institutional ethics committee approval for 21 months. Out of them, 200 patients who consented and had signs and symptoms of vulvar diseases were selected as cases, and the same number of age-matched females were enrolled as controls with no signs and symptoms of vulvar dermatoses. Results: During the study period, 9431 females attended the dermatology OPD, of which the prevalence was 2.12% (200 patients). The most common infection was genital infection without sexually transmitted infection (57%) (tinea cruris [33.5%]), followed by inflammatory dermatoses (21%) (lichen sclerosus et atrophicus [6%]). The most common risk factor found statistically significant (P ≤ 0.005) were homemakers (49%) and the use of undergarments of mixed fabric (70.68%), followed by nonmenopausal females (63.15%). Conclusion: Our study findings indicated that the prevalence was low, which reflects the tip of an iceberg. Further clinical and population-based studies, a multidisciplinary approach including gynecological consult for diagnostic and therapeutic approach is needed for the optimal management of vulvar diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatological problems in pediatric population constitute at least one third of all outpatient visits to pediatricians and dermatologists, associated with significant morbidity. There is a relative paucity of data calculating the prevalence of pediatric dermatoses in developing countries like India with low socioeconomic factors, poor hygiene and malnutrition being the contributing factors. Aim and Objectives: To study the prevalence and pattern of dermatoses in pediatric attendees of our tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: Nine hundred four pediatric patients aged 0-18 years attending the dermatology outpatient department and those from emergency referral of our tertiary care hospital were enrolled in this cross-sectional type of observational study carried over a period of two years. Results: Our study included 497 males and 407 females aged 0-18 years. Patients with non-infectious dermatoses: 555 (61%) and those with infectious dermatoses: 349 (39%). Fungal infections (156, 45%) were the most common finding in infectious dermatoses; atopic eczema (99, 17.84%) being the commonest in non-infectious dermatoses. Conclusion: Our study reflects the various patterns of dermatoses among paediatric patients. This information would further help in creating awareness about common dermatoses that are easily preventable by maintaining proper self-care and good personal hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a rare presentation of erythema multiforme following Covishield/ ChAdOx1 vaccination. The patient was diagnosed with vaccine induced erythema multiforme (EM) minor and given a short course of antihistamines and topical steroids which led to complete clearance of the lesions within 10 days. [Extracted from the article]

The atrophic rolling and boxcar acne scars [Figure 2]a were lifted by intradermal injection of PRP gel filler resulting in a marked improvement in the appearance of atrophic scars [Figure 2]b due to tissue augmentation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.{Figure 1}{Figure 2} Though there is a solitary report of the use of PRP gel as a dermal filler for prominent nasolabial folds by aesthetic surgeons,[[2]] it has not been used previously as a filler in patients with atrophic acne scars. Platelet poor plasma (PPP) gel has been used as a dermal filler for the correction of facial wrinkles, tear trough deformity and recently for the boxlike scars of chickenpox.[[1]] Solution We have devised a cost-effective autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) dermal filler gel for the correction of rolling and boxcar subtypes of soft atrophic acne scars based on the thermal denaturation and polymerization of plasma proteins. Tissue augmentation by PRP dermal filler gel in the case of soft atrophic acne scars not only has a volume effect with an immediate improvement in contour but may also induce remodeling of extracellular matrix by the activation of platelet-derived growth factor and various cytokines. [Extracted from the article]