Background:Topical steroids are one of the most commonly abused drugs. There are only a few studies available which have highlighted the severity of this problem in India. However, these studies have concentrated mainly on the topical steroid abuse and its side effects over the face.Aims:The aim of this study was to know the awareness among the people about various commonly available topical steroids and their combinations irrespective of usage and to know the extent of misuse of these drugs. Along with this, we also tried to find the source of recommendation of these medicines which will help to sensitize people about this menace.Materials and Methods:This was a prospective, questionnaire-based study done at a tertiary care hospital. A total of 1000 adult patients attending the dermatology outpatient department were administered a questionnaire about awareness and usage of topical steroid and its combinations.Results:A total of 1000 adult patients were included in the study, out of which 809 (80.9%) patients had heard about at least one of the topical steroids or its combinations mentioned in the questionnaire. Six hundred and twelve (61.2%) patients had used these creams. Acne and pigmentation were the most common indications for which topical steroid was used. These medicines were recommended by general practitioners in 302 (49.5%) patients and pharmacists in 71 (11.6%) patients. Totally, 318 (51.9%) patients complained of some form of side effect after using these creams. Aggravation of the symptoms and increased pigmentation were the most common adverse effects.Conclusion:Misuse of topical steroids not just over the face but also as a cream for any skin problem is quite common. Most of the times, it is recommended by general practitioners or pharmacists. It is very important to sensitize these people about the possible complications of these drugs and the extent of problem the society is facing because of irrational and unregulated use of these drugs.

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Masson's hemangioma (MH), also known as intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, is a rare benign vascular tumor. Histopathology helps to confirm the diagnosis, wherein a papillary proliferation of thin-walled capillaries is almost always associated with thrombus formation in the lumen of a vessel. We report the case of a 48-year-old female with a purple-colored swelling over the right thigh that was diagnosed as MH with the help of histopathological examination. Dermoscopy was also done, and the findings were reported.

Background: Dermatology is mainly considered as an outpatient specialty. In an institutional set up, the patients who are hospitalized in nondermatology departments may have skin diseases. The patients visiting other outpatient departments might have skin disorders. Such patients are referred to the department of dermatology and can be diagnosed and treated better in dermatology departments. Objectives: The objective was to analyze the pattern of referrals to the department of dermatology, venereology, and leprosy from other departments of the hospital. Materials and Methods: The records of the department of dermatology, venereology, and leprosy were analyzed for referrals between September 2019 and February 2020. Results: There were 214 males (46.8%) and 188 (53.2%) females in the study. The mean age of the patients in the study was 40.9 ± 20.8 years. Maximum number of referrals were received from the department of general medicine (192 cases, 47.7%), followed by general surgery (64 cases, 15.9%). Infections and infestations accounted for 183 (45.5%) cases out of the 402 referrals, and eczematous disorders were seen in 58 (14.4%) cases. The referring departments mentioned their dermatological diagnosis in 24% of the cases and were found to be correct in 18% of cases. Conclusion: The common dermatological conditions are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed by nondermatologist, leading to incorrect treatment, and contributes to delay in treatment. By focusing on improving the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the conditions for which dermatology referrals are usually sought might help in improving their knowledge and later help them treat patients better.