Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is becoming an increasingly popular method for hair restoration. As FUE leaves behind no linear scars, it is more suitable to harvest from various body areas including beard, chest, and extremities in hirsute individuals. Body hair characteristics such as thickness, length, and hair cycle may not completely match to that of the scalp hair. The techniques of harvesting body hairs are more time consuming, requiring higher degree of skill than regular scalp FUE. Body hair transplantation can be successfully used either alone or in combination with scalp hair in advanced grades of baldness, for improving the cosmetic appearance of hairlines and in scarring alopecia when there is paucity of donor scalp hair. Harvesting of body hairs opens up a new viable donor source for hair restoration surgeons, especially in cases of advanced Norwood grades five and above of androgenetic alopecia.

Context: The conventional diagnostic tools for dermatophytoses suffer from several limitations including low sensitivity, specificity, and long turn-around-time. Aims: The present study was, therefore, performed to evaluate the performance of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for the diagnosis of this condition. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in the Dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India over a period of 3 months from July to September 2015. Materials and Methods: Forty participants, including 25 cases and 15 controls, were recruited in this observational study. Direct microscopy and fungal culture were performed from skin scrapings and nail clippings collected from the participants. PCR was also performed to amplify the chitin synthase 1 and internal transcribed spacer 2 genes from DNA samples extracted from the same clinical materials, using the method reported by Brillowska-Dabrowska et al. The diagnostic performance of fungal culture and PCR was compared using OpenEpi software. Results: We observed a significant male predominance among patients with dermatophytoses. The sensitivity of fungal culture and dermatophyte PCR to diagnose dermatophytoses was 24% and 48%, respectively, whereas the specificity of the two assays was 100% and 93.3%, respectively. The likelihood ratio of a positive PCR assay was 7.2 and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.5. PCR assay also delivered a significant shortening of the time-to-diagnosis, with the mean turn-around-time being 8 hours and 14 days for PCR and culture, respectively. Conclusion: This study, thus, highlights the potential merits of the dermatophyte PCR assay in achieving a rapid diagnosis of dermatophytoses and underscores its utility as a complementary test to improve the sensitivity of the conventional diagnostic tools for this condition, as well as to reliably differentiate this condition from other similar skin conditions.

Introduction: Cottage industry is usually a small-scale industry operated from home by family members using their own equipment. Kashmir has a unique cottage industry of its own which deals with production of many handicrafts, which may lead to a peculiar pattern of skin diseases in these artisans. Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the pattern of skin disorders in the cottage industry workers of Kashmir valley, with primary focus on the occupation-related dermatoses and to identify the most common cutaneous manifestation in these workers. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 1062 cottage industry workers engaged in different crafts were screened. A detailed history taking and examination was carried out in each worker and the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds. Wherever deemed necessary, relevant investigations were done to establish the nature of the disease. Results: A total of 1062 workers were evaluated for the presence of skin disorders. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. The mean age of the study group was 30.3 years ± 10.79 years, with maximum number of workers (164) belonging to the crewel embroidery industry. The mean duration of work was 6.4 ± 2.08 hours/day. A total of 953 workers (89.7%) had cutaneous manifestations, with callosities being the most common finding seen in 371 workers (35%), followed by cumulative insult dermatitis seen in 201 workers (19%). Conclusion: Cottage industry of Kashmir valley is a unique occupational group where a high percentage of workers had cutaneous manifestations related to their occupation, with callosities being the most common finding. Information and better knowledge regarding these dermatoses are important in devising strategies to improve the health scenario of these workers. Simple measures such as proper use of instruments, use of protective gloves, guarded use of chemicals, and hand washing may be very beneficial in reducing the burden of health problems in these workers.

Introduction: Topical corticosteroids (TCS) have been widely used in various dermatological diseases. However, because of inadvertent use, TCS misuse has become a common problem faced by dermatologists in various parts of the world. Prolonged use over the face can cause various side effects such as steroid rosacea, acneiform eruptions, and hypertrichosis. Aim: To study the effects of TCS misuse and analyze various factors promoting its use on face. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients presenting with various facial dermatoses following the misuse of TCS on the face were studied. Detailed history was noted and the various side effects were recorded. Results: Majority of the patients (70%) were females with maximum number of patients belonging to the age group of 11–20 years. Eighty-five percent of the patients were applying TCS for medical conditions, with acne being the most common indication, and the rest were applying as a general face cream. Pruritus and acneiform eruptions were the most common side effects observed and the other reported were erythema, photosensitivity, steroid dependent face, and telangiectasia. Conclusion: TCS misuse especially over the face can lead to a multitude of side effects. It is high time to create awareness among the patients as well as doctors regarding the proper usage of this wonder drug.

The Trichosporon species are yeast-like opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised patients. Trichosporon asahii infections have been reported in pediatric bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. However, its incidence is low in the adult literature. A 52-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia received induction chemotherapy and underwent allogenic bone marrow transplant, which was complicated by a relapse and required salvage chemotherapy. She developed persistent non-neutropenic fever secondary to presumed hepatosplenic candidiasis. Antifungal therapy with fluconazole and anidulafungin was administered. She remained febrile and tender dusky nodules appeared over all the four limbs. Histopathological examination and fungal culture identified T. asahii. Oral voriconazole was initiated with complete resolution of her lesions. The Trichosporon species is a frequently isolated yeast species from cancer patients. Voriconazole has become the first choice agent against Trichosporon. We highlight the increased awareness and clinical suspicion required for diagnosis and subsequent management in similar adult patients.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon soft tissue neoplasm of low-to-intermediate grade malignant potential. Childhood onset of DFSP is rare. It is most commonly seen on the trunk and proximal extremities. In children, a high index of suspicion is necessary to avoid delays in diagnosis that can lead to further morbidity. Here, we report a case of DFSP in a 9-year-old female child. Excision biopsy of lesion was performed with 1 cm margin. After confirmation of the diagnosis by histopathology, the patient was observed for recurrence, but there was no recurrence after 1 and half years of follow up.

A 41-year-old man was referred to our outpatient department with a diagnosis of urticaria with angioedema of 3 months duration. On examination, he had generalized coalescent waxy papules and diffuse periorbital swelling. Systemic examination was unremarkable except for limited finger flexion. Serum electrophoresis and thyroid function tests were normal. Histopathological examination showed normal epidermis and intradermal mucin deposition, which was diagnostic of lichen myxedematosus (LM). The patient showed prompt response to melphalan. Here, we report this case of atypical LM because the patient had generalized eruption with normal thyroid function along with the absence of monoclonal gammopathy.

Cutaneous meningiomas are rare tumors. These are ectopic meningothelial cells located in the dermis and subcutis, and are usually seen on the scalp. Here, we report the case of a 40-year-old woman who presented with a slowly growing asymptomatic mass over the scalp in the right parieto-occipital region. The lesion was firm, adherent to underlying structures, and covered by normal appearing skin. The cytomorphological features along with histological and immunohistochemical studies showing positivity for epithelial membrane antigen, Vimentin, and S100 helped in making a definitive diagnosis of cutaneous meningioma. No evidence of intracranial meningioma was noted in contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the brain.

Mucocele is a common salivary gland disorder that can appear in the lacrimal sac, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, appendix, or gall bladder. These lesions occur due to mucous accumulation resulting from the alteration of minor salivary glands. Lower lip is the most common site of occurrence of these lesions in the oral cavity and most probable cause is trauma or habit of lip biting. Diagnosis is mainly clinical due to its pathognomonic presentation. We report a case series of mucocele in children treated by conventional surgical excision of the lesion.

Peeling skin syndrome is a very rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by widespread painless peeling of the skin in superficial sheets. Etiology is still unknown with an autosomal recessive inheritance. Less than 100 cases have been reported in the medical literature. We present a 32-year-old man having asymptomatic peeling of skin since birth. Sheets of skin were peeling from his neck, trunk, and extremities, following friction or rubbing especially if pre-soaked in water but sparing palm and soles. Histologically, there was epidermal separation at the level of stratum corneum, just above the stratum granulosum. This case is being presented due to its rarity.