Spectrum of periorbital dermatoses in South Indian population.

Background: Periorbital dermatoses are very common dermatological disorders which pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the treating dermatologist due to the similarity of symptoms in this area. Aims: To study the spectrum of periorbital dermatoses and to assess the association of systemic diseases with periorbital dermatoses. Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive study done on 250 consecutive patients irrespective of their age and sex who attended the Dermatology out patient department (OPD), with dermatological conditions pertaining to the periorbital area over a period of 2 years from October 2010 to September 2012. Results: The most common dermatological conditions seen in the periorbital region were benign and malignant skin tumors observed in 63 (25.2%) cases, followed by the disorders of pigmentation in 51 (20.4%) and eczema in 44 cases (17.6%), infections in 33 (13.2%) cases and nevoid conditions in 26 (10.4%) cases. Certain periorbital dermatoses were significantly more in females than in males in the present study like skin tags, connective tissue diseases, and periorbital melanosis (POM). Some periorbital dermatoses were significantly more common in older age group such as seborrheic keratoses, skin tags and airborne contact dermatitis whereas infections, syringomas, allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis were more prevalent in younger age group. Syringomas and POM were more common in middle-aged women. Conclusions: The most common dermatological condition seen in the periorbital region in this study are benign skin tumors (keratosis and skin tags), followed by the disorders of pigmentation and eczema, infections and nevoid conditions.

Spectrum of seborrheic keratoses in south Indians: A clinical and dermoscopic study.

Background: Even though seborrheic keratoses (SK) have been well characterized clinically and histopathologically, data regarding clinical and dermoscopic correlation of different types of SK are inadequate. Aims: We carried out a study to establish any correlation between the clinical and dermoscopic appearance of SK and its variants. Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in the Department of Dermatology, a tertiary care institute, from August 2008 to June 2010. Patients with SK were evaluated with respect to age, sex, age of onset, duration, site of lesions, number of lesions, and morphology. Dermoscopy was performed in all cases. Results: A total of 250 cases of SK were recruited. A male-to-female ratio was 1:1.04. The most common age group affected by SK was 60 years and above (40%). The most common clinical variant was common seborrheic keratosis (CSK) (60%). Comedo-like openings (CL) (80%), fissures and ridges (FR) (52%), and sharp demarcation (SD) (83%) were consistent finding on dermoscopy in CSK. Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) and pedunculated seborrheic keratoses (PSK) had characteristic CL and FR in both of them. Fingerprint (FP) (55%) and network-like (NL) (88%) structures were commonly seen in flat SK. Stucco keratoses demonstrated SD (100%) and NL structures (100%). Conclusions: The most common clinical variant of SK was CSK, followed by DPN, PSK, Flat SK, and stucco keratoses. Dermoscopic findings were consistent with those described in the literature.

Lichen simplex chronicus of anogenital region: A clinico-etiological study.

Background: Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) of the anogenital region, is a benign, extremely uncomfortable disease. Aims: As very little is known about the cause of anogenital LSC (AGLSC), we undertook this study to determine various clinico-etiological factors involved in it and to assess the frequency of AGLSC. Methods: This was a descriptive study, including 105 patients with AGLSC, who attended the Dermatology clinic in our institute from September 2007 to June 2009. Detailed history, physical examination, and relevant investigations were done. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed. Results: The frequency of AGLSC among patients presenting with anogenital pruritus was 2.54%. Primary AGLSC was more common than secondary AGLSC (69.5% vs. 30.5%). AGLSC manifested more commonly in males than in females (56.2% vs. 43.8%). The mean duration of the disease was 30.6 months. The common triggering factors for itching were sweating (41.9%), rubbing of thighs while walking for long distances (9.5%), and mental stress (5.7%). Pruritus of AGLSC was related to the intake of various food items in 37.1% of patients. In males, scrotum was the predominant site involved (89.8%), whereas in females, labia majora was the predominant site involved (78.2%). Nearly one-third of cases (30.5%) of AGLSC had some other dermatoses in the anogenital region. Conclusions: Though psychological factors are thought to play an important role in disease causation and perpetuation among AGLSC patients, their significance could not be ascertained by us.