The Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) or human herpes virus 3 is a neurotropic human alpha herpes virus responsible for chickenpox/varicella and shingles/herpes zoster (HZ). This review will focus on HZ. Since HZ is secondary to varicella, its incidence increases with age. In children and youngsters, HZ is rare and associated to metabolic and neoplastic disorders. In adults, advanced age, distress, other infections (such as AIDS or COVID-19), and immunosuppression are the most common risk factors. HZ reactivation has recently been observed after COVID-19 vaccination. The disease shows different clinical stages of variable clinical manifestations. Some of the manifestations bear a higher risk of complications. Among the possible complications, postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic pain disease, is one of the most frequent. HZ vasculitis is associated with morbidity and mortality. Renal and gastrointestinal complications have been reported. The cornerstone of treatment is early intervention with acyclovir or brivudine. Second-line treatments are available. Pain management is essential. For (secondary) prophylaxis, currently two HZV vaccines are available for healthy older adults, a live attenuated VZV vaccine and a recombinant adjuvanted VZV glycoprotein E subunit vaccine. The latter allows vaccination also in severely immunosuppressed patients. This review focuses on manifestations of HZ and its management. Although several articles have been published on HZ, the literature continues to evolve, especially in regard to patients with comorbidities and immunocompromised patients. VZV reactivation has also emerged as an important point of discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after vaccination. The objective of this review is to discuss current updates related to clinical presentations, complications, and management of HZ.

Summary Accidental dural puncture following epidural insertion can cause a post‐dural headache that is defined by the International Headache Society as self‐limiting. We aimed to confirm if accidental dural puncture could be associated with persistent headache and back pain when compared with matched control parturients. We performed a prospective multicentre cohort study evaluating the incidence of persistent headache following accidental dural puncture at nine UK obstetric units. Parturients who sustained an accidental dural puncture were matched with controls who had undergone an uneventful epidural insertion. Participants were followed‐up at six‐monthly intervals for 18 months. Primary outcome was the incidence of persistent headache at 18 months. Ninety parturients who had an accidental dural puncture were matched with 180 controls. The complete dataset for primary analysis was available for 256 (95%) participants. Incidence of persistent headache at 18 months was 58.4% (52/89) in the accidental puncture group and 17.4% (29/167) in the control group, odds ratio (95%CI) 18.4 (6.0–56.7), p < 0.001, after adjustment for past history of headache, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety) scores. Incidence of low back pain at 18 months was 48.3% (43/89) in the accidental puncture group and 17.4% (29/167) in the control group, odds ratio (95%CI) 4.14 (2.11–8.13), with adjustment. We have demonstrated that accidental dural puncture is associated with long‐term morbidity including persistent headache in parturients. This challenges the current definition of post‐dural puncture headache as a self‐limiting condition and raises possible clinical, financial and medicolegal consequences.

Background Cellulite is a common dermatological condition with a female preponderance, affecting up to 90% post‐pubertal females. It is characterized with dimpling and denting of the skin surface, giving it a Peau d'orange appearance. Once considered to be a benign physiological isolated skin condition of only an esthetic concern, cellulite is now considered a pathological entity with systemic associations and a negative psychological impact on patients. Aims The objective of this article was to discuss etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of cellulite. Materials and methods Literature was screened to retrieve articles from PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar and related websites. Cross‐references from the relevant articles were also considered for review. Review articles, clinical studies, systematic reviews, meta‐analysis, and relevant information from selected websites were included. Results Several treatment options from lifestyle modifications and topical cosmetic therapies to energy‐based devices have been studied for its treatment. However, treatment remains a challenge despite many new modalities in the armamentarium. Laser and light therapies along with radiofrequency are useful treatment options with good safety profile. Acoustic wave therapy, subcision, and 1440‐nm Nd:YAG minimally invasive laser are beneficial in cellulite reduction. Discussion Methodological differences in the trials conducted make it difficult to compare different treatment modalities. Conclusion Overall, treatment needs to be individualized based on the patient characteristics and severity of the condition. A combination of treatments is often required in most patients for reducing cellulite.

Dermatophytic infections of the skin and appendages are a common occurrence. The pathogenesis involves complex interplay of agent (dermatophytes), host (inherent host defense and host immune response) and the environment. Infection management has become an important public health issue, due to increased incidence of recurrent, recalcitrant or extensive infections. Recent years have seen a significant rise in incidence of chronic infections which have been difficult to treat. In this review, we review the literature on management of dermatophytoses and bridge the gap in therapeutic recommendations.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has wide applications in healthcare, including dermatology. Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of AI involving statistical models and algorithms that can progressively learn from data to predict the characteristics of new samples and perform a desired task. Although it has a significant role in the detection of skin cancer, dermatology skill lags behind radiology in terms of AI acceptance. With continuous spread, use, and emerging technologies, AI is becoming more widely available even to the general population. AI can be of use for the early detection of skin cancer. For example, the use of deep convolutional neural networks can help to develop a system to evaluate images of the skin to diagnose skin cancer. Early detection is key for the effective treatment and better outcomes of skin cancer. Specialists can accurately diagnose the cancer, however, considering their limited numbers, there is a need to develop automated systems that can diagnose the disease efficiently to save lives and reduce health and financial burdens on the patients. ML can be of significant use in this regard. In this article, we discuss the fundamentals of ML and its potential in assisting the diagnosis of skin cancer.