Nail Photography: Tips and Tricks.

Photographic documentation of the nails is important in the objective evaluation of response to treatment and in disseminating scientific information related to nail diseases. The key to a good image of the nail is proper framing and achieving a sharp focused image with good contrast with the background, at the same time avoiding strong reflections from the nail surface. While the general principles of clinical photography apply to nail imaging also, this article attempts to highlight some tips which can be specifically used to improve the quality of nail images.

Long-Term Follow-up and Donor Site Changes Evaluation in Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting Done for Stable Vitiligo: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) is one of the most commonly performed types of vitiligo surgery for stable vitiligo. The advantages of SBEG include cost-effectiveness and a relatively easier learning curve for the surgeon. AIMS: To evaluate the outcome in terms of both recipient and donor site changes, on long-term follow-up of the patients who underwent SBEG in our center. METHODS: Thirty patients, 21 females and 9 males ages ranging from 9 to 55 years, all having either stable vitiligo not responding to medical line of treatment, were included in the study done which involved a variable follow-up period ranging from 2 to 62 months (mean 23.6, standard deviation 17.79). SBEG was done as day care procedure. The patients were reviewed after 1-week and thereafter followed-up in the subsequent months and years. The results of the procedures were graded as poor (0-24%), fair (24-64%), good (64-94) and excellent (95-100%) depending on the patient satisfaction. Donor site changes were also analyzed. RESULTS: The face and lips showed an excellent result and color match and persistent pigment retention. The larger areas, especially the lesions on the limbs showed comparatively less response. Of the total, 6.7% showed poor, 13.3% fair, 30% good and 50% excellent response to treatment. Patient satisfaction wise, 53.3% of the patients were very happy, 26.7% were happy, 10% satisfied and 10% unhappy. Significant positive correlation between patient satisfaction and physician observation was seen (Spearman's rho 0.866). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of recent advances in surgical modalities like cellular grafting, SBEG continues to be a good, cost-effective, surgical method of treating vitiligo especially on the face and lip. The donor site also tends to show good healing tendency with minimal scarring and postinflammatory pigmentation.

Clinical photography in dermatology using smartphones: An overview.

The smartphone is one of the biggest revolutions in the era of information technology. Its built in camera offers several advantages. Dermatologists, who handle a specialty that is inherently visual, are most benefited by this handy technology. Here in this article, we attempt to provide an overview of smartphone photography in clinical dermatology in order to help the dermatologist to get the best out of the available camera for clinical imaging and storage.

Strawberry-shaped lesion on the chest: cutaneous rhinosporidiosis.

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous condition caused by the pathogen Rhinosporidium seeberi which frequently involves the nasopharynx and occasionally affects the skin. The disease has been reported from across the globe but the highest incidence has been from south India and Sri Lanka. This disease is commonly seen in adult men and the possible mode of transmission to humans is thought to be by direct contact with spores through dust, infected clothing, fingers, and swimming in stagnant water. The classical presentation is mucosal and here we present a case which presented as a growth on the chest wall. And we stress the need to keep a high index of suspicion in such cases in endemic areas.