Alopecia areata (AA) and trichotillomania (TTM) are the two common causes of localised non scarring alopecia. While AA is an autoimmune disorder, TTM is an impulse control disorder which makes the treatment of the two entities completely different. Trichoscopy is a non-invasive tool used to diagnose hair disorders, which not only is extremely helpful in diagnosing AA and TTM but also differentiates them from other hair disorders as well. The aim of our study is to describe the various trichoscopic features of AA and TTM and to compare the frequency of each trichoscopic feature in order to establish diagnostic clues for differentiating AA and TTM. Trichoscopy was performed on clinically diagnosed cases of AA and TTM with DL4 dermoscope and the images were analysed by 2 dermatologists independently. The frequency of trichoscopic features in AA and TTM was compared using chi square test. Twenty-four patients of TTM and 50 patients of AA were included in the study with mean age of AA being 30 years and mean age of TTM being 23.4 years. Exclamation mark hair, tapered hair, coudability hair, pigtail hair, clustered vellous hair, clustered regrowing hair and white hair were significantly more in alopecia areata. Conversely broken hair of different length, trichoptilosis, flame hair, mace hair, coiled hair, hair powder, fractured hair, v sign and burnt matchstick sign were the common features in TTM. To conclude, even though there is an overlap of trichoscopic features in AA and TTM, it is possible to distinguish the two if an assemblage of specific features are present.

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some cases, mycobacterial DNA may be detected in skin lesions via PCR. 1 This finding has yet to be consistently demonstrated in EI associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria, such as M. avium. A positive IGRA is expected in tuberculosis-associated EI. However, nontuberculous mycobacterial species are associated with a positive IGRA in 52% of cases and only 2% of cases of M. avium, making identification of the extracutaneous infection particularly challenging in atypical cases of EI. 5 Advanced imaging and even surgical pathology may be necessary, as demonstrated by our case.We highlight this case to increase awareness of an unusual presentation of EI and underscore the potential difficulty in identifying an underlying mycobacterial infection. Persistent workup may be necessary for diagnosis.

Although acne is principally a disorder of adolescence, the prevalence of adult acne is increasing. Adult acne has been dened as the presence of acne beyond the age of 25 years. Acne in adult women may have different clinical features i.e., more involvement of lower face, association with hair loss, premenstrual are, signs and symptoms of insulin resistance, dyslipidaemias. Various studies have shown that a signicant percentage of adult women with acne failed to respond to treatment with systemic antibiotics and isotretinoin which indicates a need for treatment alternatives with improved effectiveness and acceptable side effects for resistant acne. This study aims to study the different clinicoepidemiological features of adult acne.