The prevalence of skin diseases in any community depends upon various factors, namely the genetic and racial constitution, the social and hygienic standards, customs and occupations, the nutritional status and age structure of the community, climatic factors, state of industrialization, etc. In addition, the diagnostic competence of doctors, special interest and expertise of dermatologists, the availability of expert diagnostic facilities and new methods of therapy contribute to the higher incidence of certain skin diseases in a particular country or community. 1The literature concerning the patterns of both general and specific skin diseases is rather scanty, and only a few published reports are available from the Kingdom. Though community-based studies are the best to determine the incidence of a particular disease, they are difficult to carry out. As such, most of the studies to determine the incidence or prevalence of the dermatological diseases are based upon hospital attendance. The present study, aimed at analyzing the pattern of various dermatoses, was carried out over a two-year period from July 1995 to June 1997 at the Dermatology Unit of King Khalid Hospital (KKH), Hail, and was based on the hospital attendance of the patients. Patients and MethodsA register of all the new patients seen by the Specialists in the Dermatology Unit of KKH over the two-year period was maintained, and the age, sex, nationality and the diagnosis of each patient recorded. Clinical diagnoses made by the dermatologists were corroborated with skin biopsies and other laboratory reports wherever necessary, and the diseases were classified into different groups in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9, 1975). The data thus obtained from the records was compared with studies from other parts of the world and from other regions of Saudi Arabia.

Alopecia, a frequently reported problem, severely impacts the quality of life of patients and is often associated with loss of confidence and low self-esteem. Several conditions such as telogen effluvium (TE), anagen effluvium, diffuse type of alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, hair shaft abnormalities, loose anagen hair syndrome, and congenital atrichia or hypotrichosis are associated with hair loss. The actual prevalence rate of TE is not reported since most cases are subclinical in nature. Further, since women get more distressed by hair fall and promptly seek treatment, they tend to be over-represented. However, both genders can suffer from this condition if triggering factors are present. This consensus paper was developed by taking into account opinions of renowned experts in the field and is hoped to serve as an evidence-based platform for selecting efficacious and safe therapy for patients with TE. This review presents a synopsis of the key opinions of experts on all aspects of treatment and effective management of this condition.

Omalizumab (a recombinant, humanized anti-immunoglobulin-E antibody) has been shown in three pivotal Phase III trials (ASTERIA I, II and GLACIAL) and real-world studies to be effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and is the only licensed third-line treatment for CSU. However, the definition of response to omalizumab treatment often differs between clinical trials, real-world studies, and daily practice of individual physicians globally. As such, a consensus definition of "complete", "partial" and "nonresponse" to omalizumab is required in order to harmonize treatment management and compare data. Here, it is proposed that a disease measurement tool, for example, the 7-Day Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) or Urticaria Control Test (UCT) is required for defining response. The addition of quality of life measurements is helpful to gain insight into a patient's disease burden and its changes during treatment. A potential omalizumab treatment approach based on speed and pattern of response at 1-3 and 3-6 months is suggested. In cases where there is no response during the first 1-3 months, physicians should consider reassessing the original CSU diagnosis. Moreover, in patients showing partial response at 12 weeks, treatment with omalizumab should be continued in order to maximize the possibility of achieving symptom control. If patients have a UAS7>6 and/or UCT<12, then continued treatment is advised, dependent on physician judgement and patient expectations. In treatment responders, omalizumab treatment can be resumed at a later stage after discontinuation with the same degree of symptom control.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as androgenic or pattern alopecia, is a frequently reported disorder that affects both the sexes, with a higher incidence generally reported in men. AGA has immense psychological effects on the patient, irrespective of the age or stage of baldness. This consensus document has been developed taking into account the opinions of leading experts in the field of dermatology. The objective of this article is to provide the dermatologists with an evidence-based platform for choosing efficacious and safe therapy for patients with AGA. This review articulately summarizes the key opinions of the experts on all aspects of treatment for the effective management of AGA.

Acute scleritis could be the presenting feature in a rare case of congenital erythropoietic porphyria, warranting systemic evaluation.