Background: Over the years, acyclovir has been the oral antiviral agent approved for the treatment of patients with acute herpes zoster,Its effectiveness in lessening the acute signs and symptoms of herpes zoster has been established but the effects on post herpetic neuralgia are less clear cut. Famciclovir is a new member of guanine nucleoside family of drugs. It is a well absorbed oral form of penciclovir with longer half life. This was a open comparative randomized study carried out to compare the safety and efficacy of famciclovir administered at 250mg thrice daily with acyclovir 800mg five times daily for the treatment of acute uncomplicated herpes zoster in immunocompetent individuals aged above 40 years. AIM:To assess the clinical profile of Herpes zoster, compare the efficacy and safety of acyclovir and famciclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster and to describe the effectiveness of acyclovir and famciclovir preventing post herpetic neuralgia. Methods:A total of 100 newly zoster were randomized in 1:1 ratio into acyclovir and famciclovir groups after inclusion criteria were satisfied.Treatment was initiated within 72 hrs of onset of symptoms and was continued for 7 days and evaluated at the end of each week up to six weeks period for full crusting of the lesions, complete healing of the lesion and loss of acute pain.Results: It was observed that famciclovir was as effective as acyclovir with no significant difference in time taken for full crusting, complete healing of lesions or loss of acute pain. Famciclovir was well tolerated with a better safety profile comparable to that of acyclovir. Constipation, headache, nausea and vomiting were the most commonly reported adverse effects, but constipation was considered to have a possible relationship to treatment. Conclusion:In conclusion, oral famciclovir administered three times daily for 7 days during acute zoster infection is as effective as acyclovir, administered 800mg five times daily.In addition it offers significant benefit by providing a well tolerated, cost effective, convenient dosage regime and accelerated rate of lesion resolution and a reduced duration of PHN.

Neurofibroma is a benign tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath characterized by proliferation of Schwann cells, perineural cells and endoneurial fibroblasts. Different types of neurofibromas can be identified, including localized, plexiform, and diffuse types. Diffuse neurofibroma is an uncommon form of neurofibroma that occurs primarily in children and young adults. The head and neck regions are the most common sites of involvement. Diffuse neurofibroma is an ill-defined infiltrative lesion and tends to involve the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It produces localized thickening and induration of the skin. We present a case of a 12-year-old boy who had a diffuse neurofibroma on the scalp since the age of 2 years.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Androgenetic alopecia is characterized by progressive hair loss and is recognized as having significant psychological effects on affected patients with a negative impact on QOL. Drug therapies specifically approved by FDA for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are limited to minoxidil and finasteride. There are limited three arm studies comparing treatment modalities in AGA, hence we undertook this study to compare the 3 most common, affordable therapeutic modalities used currently in AGA and their effects.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective comparative parallel group interventional study. 90 subjects recruited into 3 groups, group A treated with minoxidil alone, group B with minoxidil and dermaroller and group C with minoxidil and platelet rich plasma (PRP).<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> At the end of 5 months 50% patients in group C showed moderate improvement which was found to be superior to the other treatment groups. On the basis of global photographs secondary efficacy analysis was done and all arms were found to have slight improvement. Dermoscopic analysis done at baseline and 5 months showed that group C showed maximum improvement. Pain was the most common side effect noted in group C while pruritus and seborrheic dermatitis was seen more in group A.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study showed best results in patients treated with PRP and minoxidil. They have emerged as new non-surgical treatment modalities for AGA, with minimal side effects, good safety profile and patient satisfaction. There are limited three arm studies comparing the efficacy and side effect profile of these 3 modalities in AGA.  </p><p> </p>

Background: There has been a lot of recent search on consideration of psoriasis as a systemic disease, with researchers being of the view that dermatological manifestations represent only a part of the spectrum. Although, there have been plenty of studies from the west reporting an association of psoriasis with the metabolic syndrome, there are no large-scale Indian studies evaluating Asian patients. The present study is an endeavour in this regard. Aim:To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Indian patients with newly diagnosed psoriasis at the onset of the disease.

Generalized eruptive histiocytosis (GEH) is a rare cutaneous histiocytosis that mainly affects adults and presents with multiple symmetric papules on face, trunk, and proximal extremities. GEH is included in type IIa (histiocytes involving cells of dermal dendrocyte lineage) of histiocytic disorders. Clinical and pathological correlations are required for differentiating GEH from other histiocytic disorders and from lepromatous leprosy which clinically mimic GEH and is prevalent in India. We report a case of a middle-aged woman who presented with generalized asymptomatic papules and nodules and was treated for leprosy but was finally diagnosed to have GEH after clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical correlation. Furthermore, the newer lesions also showed features of progressive nodular histiocytosis.