A comparative interventional study of narrowband ultraviolet B alone and narrowband ultraviolet B in combination with microneedling in patients with stable vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a cosmetically concerning common disorder of depigmentation. Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is a well-established mode of treatment for vitiligo. Microneedling is a simple method that has been used for vitiligo treatment in adjunct with NB-UVB and has been shown to induce repigmentation in a few studies; however, there is limited study in the literature. AIMS: To compare the efficacy of NB-UVB alone versus NB-UVB in conjunction with microneedling in patients of stable vitiligo. METHODS: Thirty patients of non-segmental vitiligo with patches tending toward symmetry, stable for at least 6 months were included. Patches on right side of body (side A) were subjected to both microneedling every 2 weeks and NB-UVB three times a week, while patches on left side of body (side B) were subjected to NB-UVB alone thrice weekly for 4 months or till complete resolution of lesions whichever was earlier. Patients were followed up for another 2 months. Response was assessed by photographic record and Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI score) calculated at baseline and every month for 6 months. RESULTS: The mean VASI score improvement in both the groups as compared to baseline was statistically significant (p-value < .01). However, the difference in mean VASI scores between the two groups was not statistically significant (p-value = .17). CONCLUSION: NB-UVB is an effective modality for treatment of vitiligo, but there is no additional benefit of combining microneedling with it.

A Comparative Study of Microneedling Alone Versus Along with Platelet-Rich Plasma in Acne Scars.

CONTEXT: There are several modalities of treating acne scars. The combination of microneedling and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a synergistic approach to treat acne scars. AIMS: The aim was to compare the efficacy of microneedling alone versus microneedling with PRP in acne scars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a split face study conducted on 36 patients with acne scars who underwent four sessions of microneedling with PRP on right side and microneedling alone on left side at monthly interval. The total scars with subtypes and Ecchelle D'Evaluation Cliniques des Cicatrices D'Acne (ECCA) score were assessed at baseline and second, fourth, and sixth visits. Visual analog score (VAS) was evaluated by both physicians and patients. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Paired-t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare the results. RESULTS: Mean age was 23.7±3.2 years with 17 male and 19 female patients. The mean total scars on right and left sides declined from 42.14±21.15 to 25.08±14.14 and 43.28+23.08 to 27.17±15.68, respectively, with insignificant differences (P-value = 0.094). ECCA score on right and left sides declined from 88.31±32.78 to 62.92±23.68 and 89.58±32.43 to 66.25±23.89, respectively (P-value = 0.058). VAS evaluated by patient and physician showed maximum improvement at second and third visits, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no added advantage of topical application of PRP over microneedling in acne scars.

Role of Serum Melatonin and Oxidative Stress in Childhood Atopic Dermatitis: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Many factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and recently the role of oxidative damage has been postulated. OBJECTIVES: To study the levels of oxidants and antioxidants including melatonin in the blood of children with AD and their association with the severity of AD. METHODS: Thirty patients with atopic dermatitis, aged 6 months to 12 years, and equal number of age and sex-matched controls were included. Clinical characteristics and baseline severity assessment using SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) severity index were noted. Blood superoxide dismutase, blood glutathione peroxidase, serum malondialdehyde, and serum melatonin levels were measured in cases and controls and results were compared. RESULTS: The serum levels of malondialdehyde and melatonin were significantly higher among the cases compared to controls. The blood levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were higher in cases but the difference with controls was not statistically significant. There was no significant correlation between these markers and the severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress was increased in cases of childhood AD compared to the control group in this study. No correlation between oxidative stress and the severity of the disease was found. Larger studies are warranted.

Clinicoepidemiologic Profile and the Cutaneous and Nasal Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Children with Atopic Dermatitis from North India.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of literature about the atypical clinical manifestations in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Asian setting, and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and its association with disease severity, if any. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate atypical clinical patterns of AD in children and to determine the MRSA isolation and its association with disease severity. METHODS: We studied 55 pediatric patients from 2 months to 10 years of age, of either sex, diagnosed with AD based on the diagnostic criteria of Hanifin and Rajka. History, clinical examination (including atypical features), and severity score using SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) severity index were recorded. Swabs from the cutaneous lesion and anterior nares were collected from each case and processed. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS (V 17). OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: Atypical clinical features were seen in 52.7% of cases. Retroauricular fissures (among atypical features), oozing, crusting, darkening, early age at onset, and nipple eczema were found to be significantly associated with disease severity (P < 0.05). The majority of the cases (56.4%) fell in the moderate disease severity (mean SCORAD 32.02). MRSA showed an isolation frequency of 7.27% from the skin swabs and 10.90% from the nares. No significant association was found between Staphylococcus aureus isolates (including MRSA) and disease severity in our study. A high degree of fluoroquinolone resistance was noted in MRSA isolates. LIMITATION: Further characterization of S. aureus by superantigen profiling was not done. CONCLUSION: Patients with AD need to be evaluated for atypical features which may serve as markers of severe disease.

Efficacy of oral zinc therapy in epidermodysplasia verruciformis with squamous cell carcinoma.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare, inherited disorder that predisposes patients to widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. There is still no definitive therapeutic modality for EV. A 24 year old male patient with EV was treated with oral zinc sulphate, one of the cheapest and safe immuno-modulator available as therapeutic agent with satisfactory result.

Unilateral linear punctate palmoplantar keratoderma.

Punctate palmoplantar keratoderma (Brauer-Buschke-Fischer syndrome) is a rare entity. Among punctate keratoderma, the linear presentation is much rarer, and exact incidence is not known. Unilateral linear punctate palmoplantar keratoderma is not yet reported in the literature. Here we report a case 12-year-old child presented with asymptomatic linear punctate plaque on the left sole and hand; histology revealed hyperkeratotic epidermis without columns of parakeratosis or cornoid lamella.

Squamous cell carcinoma complicating an untreated chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) lesion in a black female.

A 36-years-old female presented with hypertrophic, depigmented plaques on both forearms and a fungating cauliflower-like growth on the left forearm. Histologically, the plaque lesions were discoid lupus erythematosus, and the fungating growth was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

A comparative study of punch grafting followed by topical corticosteroid versus punch grafting followed by PUVA therapy in stable vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Punch grafting followed by PUVA is an established therapy for stable vitiligo, but punch grafting followed by topical corticosteroid has never been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical corticosteroid in perigraft pigmentation and to compare it with perigraft pigmentation after PUVA in patients with stable vitiligo. METHODS: Fifty patients with stable vitiligo of various clinical types were subjected to punch grafting. In a randomized case study, these patients were divided into two groups: One group received post punch-grafting PUVA (group I) and the other group post punch-grafting topical application of fluocinolone acetonide 0.1% (group II). During the follow-up period of 6 months, six patients were lost to follow-up, and two patients were excluded from the study; 42 patients were evaluated for pigment spread and side effects. RESULTS: In group I, the average pigment spread was 6.38 mm, whereas in group II, it was 6.94 mm, showing a slightly higher pigment spread in group II, which was statistically not significant (P=0.301). There was no difference in response to therapy in patients having segmental vitiligo as compared with nonsegmental vitiligo. Cobblestoning, depigmentation of the grafts, infection, and graft displacement were the important side effects seen in some patients in both the groups. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the pigment spread with topical corticosteroid is comparable to that with PUVA. However, the studies with long-term follow-up are required to establish this. The advantages of topical corticosteroid are that its use is easy, less cumbersome, cheaper, and more cost effective than PUVA.

Reticulate acropigmentation of dohi: first case reports from Nepal.

Acropigmentation of Dohi is a rare acropigmentary disorder. We report two cases of reticulate acropigmentation of Dohi from Nepal. To the best of our knowledge, these two cases represent the first case reports from Nepal.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with dexamethasone pulse therapy.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe, episodic, acute, mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reaction often caused by drugs. We herewith report a case of SJS with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) that did not respond to daily oral prednisolone therapy. When treated with dexamethasone pulse therapy, the response was found to be very good. Therefore, we concluded that dexamethasone pulse therapy can be a good and an effective alternative therapy for treatment of such patients. However, to establish its role, further trials in more patients are needed.