ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Melasma is a commonly acquired, chronic, and relapsing disorder that results in symmetrical, brownish facial pigmentation. It is more common in women than in men, which generally starts between 20 and 40 years of age, and it can lead to considerable embarrassment and distress. Managing melasma is a difficult challenge that requires long-term treatment with a number of topical agents. Microneedling has been described as a new technique to enhance the drug's transdermal penetration, and has also been reported to result in sustained long-term improvement of recalcitrant melasma. AIM: The aim of this article was to compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of combined treatment of skin microneedling and depigmenting cream versus depigmenting cream alone in the treatment of melasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with a sample size of 40 patients, with twenty in each of the treatment arms; 20 patients were treated with combined skin needling and depigmenting cream and 20 with depigmenting cream alone. The outcome was evaluated periodically for up to 2 months using the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score. RESULTS: Significant reduction was observed in modified MASI score in the combined treatment, with P value <0.05. CONCLUSION: Combining microneedling with Kligman's regimen gives better results in melasma treatment compared to topical treatment alone.
ABSTRACT
A paradoxical clinical worsening of a known condition or the appearance of a new condition after initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients is defined as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Because of wide variation in clinical presentation and the still increasing spectrum of symptoms and etiologies reported, diagnosis remains problematic. Furthermore, no test is currently available to establish an IRIS diagnosis. Until a greater understanding of the syndrome is achieved in different regions of the world, clinicians need to remain vigilant when initiating ART and individualize therapy according to known treatment options for the specific infectious agent.
ABSTRACT
Dissemination of primary cutaneous nocardiosis is a rare event. A 37-year-old man working as farmer presented with multiple painful suppurative nodular and ulcerative skin lesions over left lower extremities, in a linear pattern, with duration of five months and single painful nodule over right elbow since last three months. We found the presence of beaded filamentous bacteria in Gram stain smear and partial acid fast stain, from the smear taken from pus. Patient responded well to cotrimoxazole therapy. Hence, we confirm our diagnosis of sporotrichoid pattern of cutaneous nocardiosis with dissemination to other cutaneous area.
Subject(s)
Nocardia Infections/diagnosis , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/diagnosis , Sporotrichosis/diagnosis , Adult , Humans , Male , Nocardia Infections/therapy , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/therapy , Sporotrichosis/therapyABSTRACT
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal cutaneous and extra cutaneous vascular proliferative disorder. In India, there are only a few cases of HIV-associated KS in published literature. A 26-year-old married man presented with asymptomatic elevated skin lesions over the face, trunk, both upper limbs and lower limbs with a duration of one-and-a-half months. Cutaneous examination revealed multiple violaceous papules and nodules, on the face (right upper and lower eyelids, upper lip), trunk and proximal part of both limbs. Oral cavity showed erythematous plaques, two in number, on the hard palate. Skin biopsy showed proliferation of thin walled capillaries with formation of slit like spaces, spindle cell proliferation, abundant extravasation of RBCs and moderately dense inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis. Thus a clinical diagnosis of cutaneous KS was confirmed. On testing with ELISA for HIV, the patient was for the first time diagnosed as HIV reactive. Thus KS was the presenting manifestation of HIV disease.
