Introduction: The pathogenesis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) mainly involves vascular injury, fibrosis, and immune activation. Visualization of these microvascular changes by nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) can help in the early diagnosis of the disease. Even though the gold standard for NFC is a videodermoscope, the ease, practicality, and accessibility make the hand-held dermoscope a more versatile and suitable device in the hands of the dermatologists in the busy outpatient department. Aim: To study the pattern of nail fold capillaries using hand-held dermoscope in the patients of SSc and correlate the findings with disease severity. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out over a span of 2 years, from January 2020 till December 2021, in 50 patients of SSc. NFC using DermLite DL4 was performed in all the patients and distribution, morphology, density of capillaries, and nail fold capillary pattern were observed. Results: Out of 50 patients, 38 patients had diffuse type of disease, and 12 had limited type of disease. The mean capillary density in our patients was 4.7 ± 0.81/mm. Dilated capillaries was the most common NFC finding (80%), whereas active scleroderma pattern was the most common pattern (56%). A significant association was found between the type of capillary pattern and duration of disease, type of disease, and cutaneous manifestations. Conclusion: Hand-held dermoscope is reliable, practical, and assessable tool that aids in early diagnosis of the disease and also helps in assessing the severity and prognosis of SSc.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an unprecedented lockdown with restrictions on human movement and interaction, imposed throughout the world to contain the spread of the disease. This gave us the unique opportunity to study the pattern of patients presenting to the dermatology out-patient department during this period.Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study involving the assessment of patient records from 25th March 2020 to 7th June 2020. This period corresponds to the duration of strictly imposed nationwide lockdown which was relaxed with phased resumption from 8th June 2020, termed as unlock 1.Results: A decrease in the absolute as well as proportional number of patients was seen in majority of the cases with a statistically significant proportional decline being seen in cases of allergic contact dermatitis (p-value =0.007), acne (p value <0.001), male pattern hair loss (p value <0.001) and female pattern hair loss (p value <0.001), verrucae (p value=0.01), seborrheic dermatitis (p value <0.001), ephelids (p value <0.001), melasma (p value<0.001), post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (p value=0.006). However, there were certain disorders whose proportionate representation increased significantly during the lockdown period contrary to prevalent belief. These disorders included urticaria (p value <0.001), herpes zoster (p value <0.001), scabies (p value =0.01), generalized pruritus (p value <0.001) and prurigo (p value <0.001).Conclusions: Disorders like acne, male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss, verrucae, seborrheic dermatitis, ephelids, melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which do not cause significant morbidity showed a significant decrease in proportional representation. The proportionate representation of disorders like urticaria, herpes zoster, scabies, generalized pruritus and prurigo increased significantly during the lockdown period.

Background: Pigmentary disorders are a common skin affliction causing great distress and anguish among those affected. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic modality which has great potential in the diagnosis of these disorders. Objectives: To assess the dermoscopic features relevant to the diagnosis of pigmentary dermatoses in patients presenting to our tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in patients presenting to pigmentary dermatoses clinic of our hospital over a period of 1 year. A comprehensive evaluation with special emphasis on dermoscopy was performed in all patients. The dermoscope used was DL3N Dermlite (10X). Additional investigations were carried out as deemed necessary to clinch a final diagnosis. Results: The study included a total of 200 cases with 90 males and 110 females, with age ranging from 6 months to 69 years and a mean age of 24.43 ± 17.07 years. The pigmentary dermatoses encountered were divided into three groups − disorders of hypopigmentation, facial melanoses, and other pigmentary disorders. Dermoscopic findings most relevant to diagnosis were compiled and tabulated. Conclusion: Dermoscopy played a significant role to rule out ominous diagnosis with accuracy comparable to histopathology, when carried out by an expert. The need for an invasive procedure such as skin biopsy was evaded in a number of cases.

Introduction: Skin disorders represent a major proportion of occupational disorders. Dermatoses are becoming a source of concern in various population groups. In Kashmir valley, a large number of people are associated directly or indirectly with horticulture. Fruit cultivation is the main occupation of around 33 lakh people in the Union Territory. Aim: To study the profile of dermatological disorders in workers involved in fruit growing industry of Kashmir valley. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational study, carried out over a period of 2 years, in which 701 workers of fruit growing industry of Kashmir valley were screened. Results: 276 (39.37%) of these workers were found to have skin lesions while the rest, that is, 425 (60.63%) were not found to have any dermatoses. Out of the total dermatological lesions observed, occupational dermatoses contributed to 94 cases (34.05%), while non-occupational dermatoses accounted for 182 cases (65.94%). Among the occupational dermatoses, friction-related disorders (callosities and cuts) were predominant (15.9%) followed by allergic (12%) and irritant contact dermatitis (6.2%). Out of the non-occupational dermatoses group, the major portion was comprised by polymorphic light eruption (6.2%) in non-infectious type while in infectious type, onychomycoses predominated (3.3%). Conclusion: Dermatological conditions form a major group of occupational dermatoses among workers involved in fruit cultivation.