Lepromatous leprosy as a presenting feature of HIV.

Various bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal opportunistic infections occur frequently in immunocompromised individuals, however, leprosy in retroviral disease is a relatively rare association. Hereby, we report a case of lepromatous leprosy that presented with clinical features mimicking other opportunistic infections and subsequently led to the diagnosis of HIV. The myriad challenges associated with the diagnosis and management of HIV-leprosy coinfection are also discussed. Thus, although uncommon, atypical cutaneous lesions in HIV-seropositive patients warrant investigation for leprosy.

Successful follicular unit extraction in a case of inactive, recalcitrant alopecia barbae.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring autoimmune type of alopecia. Hair transplantation in AA is not practiced as the implanted follicular grafts might be destroyed due to underlying autoimmune pathology. A biopsy proven 28 year old male patient of AA presented to us with an 8-year history of a hairless patch over the beard area. He underwent many treatments by other dermatologist with oral, topical, and intralesional immunosuppressants, which curtailed his disease progression but failed to re-grow hair. Biopsy during his visit revealed absence of inflammatory infiltrates and empty hair tracts replaced by fibrotic tracts. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) was done successfully after counseling the patient about the controversial role of hair transplant surgery in AA. Hair growth was achieved within 6 months with no recurrence during 1-year follow up. FUE can be opted for long-standing and clinically stable cases of AA; histopathology and dermoscopy being the guiding lights in determining the disease inactivity.

Follicular Unit Extraction [FUE] - One Procedure, Many Uses.

Follicular unit extraction [FUE] is a minimally invasive hair restoration surgery popularly known for its utility in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). In FUE, individual follicular grafts are extracted from donor area and implanted in the recipient area. Advantages of FUE are that it is comparatively 'scarless', has faster healing time, has less downtime and requires less technical staff. This article is aimed to highlight upon the multi-faceted utility of FUE technique in various dermatological indications like androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, facial hair restoration, tractional alopecia, scarring alopecia, body hair transplant, vitiligo as well as hirsutism.

A Curious Case of Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus-Like Lesions: Enigma of an Overlap

@#Overlap syndrome is a term used to describe a condition wherein a patient has features of more than one classic inflammatory rheumatic disease like systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals with an overlap syndrome may, but need not meet, complete diagnostic criteria for one or more than one classic rheumatic disease. Mixed connective tissue disease is a specific subset of overlap syndrome wherein patients have antibodies to the U1 small nuclear ribonuclear protein (anti- U1RNP) and clinical features like hand edema, synovitis, Raynaud phenomenon, acrosclerosis and biologically or histologically proven myositis. We came across an interesting case showing clinical features of both Systemic Sclerosis and Discoid Lupus erythematosus (DLE). On complete evaluation, a final diagnosis of Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis - DLE overlap was made on the basis of histopathopathological and serological findings. Patient was started accordingly on systemic and topical medications and responded well.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Augments Subcision in Atrophic Acne Scars: A Split-Face Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Acne has a prevalence of 90% among adolescents. Facial scarring affects 75% of patients. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel treatment option for acne scar management and can be used as an adjuvant to acne scar revision procedures. Owing to its remodeling properties, PRP when used as an adjuvant reduces the total number of sittings. OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of autologous PRP and subcision against subcision alone in acne scars. METHODOLOGY: It was an experimental analytical study conducted over a period of 2 years. Forty patients successfully completed the trial. It was a split-face study in which the right side of the face was the study side where autologous PRP was injected into each scar after performing subcision. The left side of the face was the control side where only subcision was performed. Digital photographs were taken at every sitting. Analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney tests in SPSS software. RESULTS: Platelet-rich plasma and subcision showed greater improvement (32.08%) in postacne scars as compared to subcision alone (8.33%). Rolling acne scars responded greatest (39.27%) followed by box-type scars (33.88%). CONCLUSION: Platelet-rich plasma and subcision act synergistically to improve the appearance of acne scars.