Background:Hirsutism refers to the presence of terminal hairs at the body sites under androgenic control. Various factors, including genetic makeup and hormonal status, influence the rate and pattern of hair growth at these sites.Purpose:To study the pattern of hirsutism in Kashmir.Materials and Methods:Thirty five consecutive patients of hirsutism were included in the study. After detailed history taking, physical examination and relevant investigations, scoring of hirsutism was done using the Ferriman Gallwey (FG) scoring system.Findings:The FG score ranged from 10-34. Twenty patients had associated menstrual abnormalities. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed in four patients, hypothyroidism in two and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in one. The rest of the patients had idiopathic hirsutism.Conclusion:Idiopathic hirsutism was the most common category, whilst PCOS, hypothyroidism and CAH were also seen.

Background:Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a genetically determined mechano-bullous disorder of the skin encompassing a group of conditions that share skin fragility as a common feature.Materials and Methods:Twele patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa from Kashmir valley are reported.Results:Our series included 12 patients, 5 males and 7 females. Features were consistent with EB simplex in 8 patients, EB pruriginosa in 2 patients, generalized atrophic benign EB in one patient and EB acquista in one patient.Conclusion:EB is a rare, genetically determined, blistering disorder affecting both males and females with predominant involvement of hands and feet. In the absence of specific therapy, treatment mainly involves avoidance of provoking factors, prevention and treatment of complications.

Background: Cutaneous warts are common benign skin lesions caused by human papillomavirus. Various treatment options are available for these but immunotherapy is becoming more and more popular over the past few years. It stimulates cell-mediated immunity causing clearance of warts. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to determine the role of intralesional vitamin D3 in the treatment of warts. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with verruca vulgaris attending OPD were included. Around two to three warts were injected first with 0.2 mL of lignocaine (20 mg/mL). After a few minutes, the same warts were injected with 0.2 mL (4 U) of vitamin D3 (15 mg/mL). The injections were given2 weeks apart for a maximum of six sessions, and the patient was followed up 3 months after the last injection. Results: A total of 41 patients of cutaneous warts completed the study. Complete clearance was seen in 27 (65.85%) patients, partial response was seen in 11 (26.83%) patients, and three patients (7.32%) showed no response at all. The mean number of injections required for complete response was four. Recurrence was seen in two patients (4.88%) and one patient had keloid formation at the sight of injection. Limitation: This is a small sample sized study and lacks a control group. Conclusion: Intralesional vitamin D3 is an effective treatment option for common warts.

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Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common skin condition, affecting 0.5-1% of the population. Multiple studies have demonstrated that plasma D-dimer levels could be employed as a biomarker for disease activity and treatment response in patients with CU. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the correlation between D-dimer levels and the disease activity of CU. Materials and Methods: This study was a case-control study conducted on 120 patients suffering from CU and 50 healthy subjects. Plasma D-dimer levels were measured using ELISA. Results: Mean plasma D-dimer levels in the patients with CU (720.5 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in the controls (405.6 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between plasma D-dimer levels and the UAS (urticaria activity score). Conclusion: The patients with CU had higher plasma D-dimer levels than the control group. A positive statistical correlation was observed between plasma D-dimer levels and the severity of CU.