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Byline: Sidharth. Sonthalia Sir, The epidemic of 'antifungal therapeutic failure (AFTF)' in South Asian region warrants comprehensive albeit tactful cerebration. I read the review 'Antifungal resistance in Dermatology' by Pai [...]

Byline: . Arshdeep, Sidharth. Sonthalia, Feroze. Kaliyadan, Enzo. Errichetti, Abhijeet. Jha, Aimilios. Lallas Dear Sir, We read with interest the deliberation by Verma et al., on 'Seborrheic melanosis: An entity [...]

Byline: Sidharth. Sonthalia, Enzo. Errichetti, Feroze. Kaliyadan, Abhijeet. Jha, Aimilios. Lallas Sir, We read with interest the cross-sectional observational study by Sharma et al ., involving fifty Indian patients with [...]

Background: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common dermatosis that presents with hyperpigmented, velvety thick plaques over intertriginous areas. Though a number of treatment modalities including chemical peels have been used, none provide long‐term and sustained improvement. Aim and objectives: Our study evaluated the efficacy and safety of regular sessions of salicylic acid‐mandelic acid peeling over axillary AN lesions, which was followed by daily application of a topical combination of glycolic acid, urea, and cetylated fat esters for maintenance of effect for 9 months. Methodology: A retrospective pilot study was conducted in Indian patients (Fitzpatrick skin type 4 or 5), aged 18–50 with benign hereditary AN involving the underarms, with or without affection of other typical sites. Data were retrieved of seventeen patients with AN involving the axillae. Patients were started on combination salicylic‐mandelic acid peel given every 2 weeks for a total of 6 sessions. Maintenance was done by night application of combination cream of glycolic acid, urea, and cetylated fat esters, which was continued for 9 months after completion of peeling sessions. Lesions were evaluated every 3 months of 9 months for improvement in pigmentation and skin thickening. Results: All the patients (100%) showed significant improvement in both pigmentation and thickening of lesions. In terms of improvement in skin thickening, very good improvement was seen in 41%, while 29% patients had moderate improvement. In terms of improvement in pigmentation, 35% each had very good and moderate improvement. Post peel erythema (100%) and burning sensation (90%) were the most common encountered adverse effects which lasted for only 1–2 days. Patients were followed up for another 9 months during which no relapses were seen. Conclusion: Combination of keratolytic chemical peels and topical mild keratolytic application ensures better therapeutic outcome in patients of AN with long lasting effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Rashmi. Sarkar, Sanjeev. Aurangabadkar, T. Salim, Anupam. Das, Swapnil. Shah, Imran. Majid, Mohan. Singh, G. Ravichandran, Kiran. Godse, Shehnaz. Arsiwala, Latika. Arya, Narendra. Gokhale, Nilendu. Sarma, R. Torsekar, Sidharth. [...]

Byline: Rashmi. Sarkar, Shehnaz. Arsiwala, Neha. Dubey, Sidharth. Sonthalia, Anupam. Das, Latika. Arya, Narendra. Gokhale, R. Torsekar, V. Somani, Imran. Majid, Kiran. Godse, G. Ravichandran, Mohan. Singh, Sanjeev. Aurangabadkar, T. [...]

Byline: Rashmi. Sarkar, Narendra. Gokhale, Kiran. Godse, Pallavi. Ailawadi, Latika. Arya, Nilendu. Sarma, R. Torsekar, V. Somani, Pooja. Arora, Imran. Majid, G. Ravichandran, Mohan. Singh, Sanjeev. Aurangabadkar, Shehnaz. Arsiwala, Sidharth. [...]

Byline: Sidharth. Sonthalia, Adity. Priya, Desmond. Tobin Background: The incidence of self-reported premature hair graying (PHG) seems to be on the rise. PHG has a profound impact on the patient's [...]

Background: The International Dermoscopy Society (IDS) recently released a set of five basic dermoscopic parameters (vessels, scales, follicular findings, "other structures," and specific clues) encompassing a total of 31 subitems to standardize the use of dermoscopy in non‐neoplastic dermatoses, yet they have been developed taking into account Caucasian/Asian skin, with consequent possible limitations if used in dark skin. Objectives: To validate the abovementioned criteria for the use in dark‐skinned patients (phototypes IV–VI) through an expert consensus. Methods: The two‐round Delphi method was adopted, with an iterative process consisting of two rounds of email questionnaires. Potential panelists were recruited via e‐mail from all over the world based on their expertise on dermoscopy of non‐neoplastic dermatoses in skin of color. Results: Twenty‐two panelists took part in the validation process. All of the five originally proposed parameters and subitems reached agreement during the first round, aside from "follicular red dots." Additionally, during round 1, five new subitems were proposed (perifollicular scales distribution, follicular openings obliteration, broken hairs, eccrine pigmentation, and eccrine ostia obliteration), along with the possibility to change the denomination of parameter 3 (from "follicular findings" to "follicular/eccrine findings") and split it into two subparameters ("follicular findings" and "eccrine findings"). All such proposals reached agreement during the second round and therefore were included in the final list, for a total of 37 items. Conclusions: Although nearly all the dermoscopic criteria originally proposed by the IDS are applicable even to darker phototypes, several additional variables need to be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress parameters have been reported to be significantly higher than controls in diverse disorders of pigmentation but no such data seem to be extant for IGH. Objectives: To verify whether heightened oxidative stress levels are seen in patients with IGH (compared with matched controls) and quantify the same in blood using appropriate biochemical markers. Further, an attempt to determine if there might be any correlation between the amount of oxidative stress and the severity of the disease. Methodology: This prospective case‐control study was conducted in Northern India. Thirty Indian patients (Fitzpatrick skin phototype (SPT) IV‐V) were included. The diagnosis of IGH lesions was confirmed based on characteristic clinical, and dermoscopic characteristics and confirmed on histopathological examination (H & E) of one of the lesions. Results: The oxidative stress enzyme level was significantly higher among the cases compared to controls which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was also observed between the levels of these markers and number of lesions, but this finding was statistically not significant [p > 0.05]. Assessment of melanin level by Dopa staining method in the IGH lesions revealed irregularly distributed melanin with areas of high and low melanin content and greater accumulation in the basement layer. Conclusion: The results of this probably the first study evaluating oxidative stress in IGH show that the oxidative stress is increased in patients with IGH. Level of oxidative stress seems to be correlated with both age of the patient (more in the elderly) and number of lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]