Occipital Donor Area Grading and Profile in Indian Population.

Background: Safe donor area (SDA) in hair transplant surgery had been categorized by various studies. We designed a study to profile the occipital donor area in our population and devise a grading scale the donor area.

Aim: To profile and grade the pattern of receding hair over the occipital donor area among men in the age group of 50-55 years with androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Combination and Rotational Therapy in Androgenetic Alopecia.

Management of androgenetic alopecia is a challenge because of its long course, need for continuous treatment, and potential adverse effects of the therapies. In order to enhance efficacy, minimize side effects, and ensure patient compliance, the authors propose a scheme for using combination treatments with a rotational scheme, based on current evidence for efficacy, pharmacokinetic properties, convenience of administration over long term, side effect profile, and patient acceptance.

Role of Hair Transplantation in Scarring Alopecia-To Do or Not to Do.

Alopecia in the scalp region leads to psychosocial embarrassment for an individual. Alopecia could be due to several reasons, including genetic, hormonal, traumatic and infections. Cicatricial alopecias (CAs) are considered as trichological emergency, since their progression is rapid and always results in permanent hair loss.

Practical Approach to Hair Loss Diagnosis.

Hair loss is one of the common complaints encountered in a cosmetic practice. Evaluating a patient with hair loss requires a thorough understanding of the various causes of hair loss and practical knowledge in hair cosmetics and hair styling procedures. A systematic approach in hair loss evaluation helps the treating physician in arriving at a diagnosis.

Hair Transplant Practice Guidelines.

The field of hair transplant (HT) has grown exponentially in the past decade, especially after the introduction of follicular unit excision (FUE). There is much variation in criteria for case selection, the technique, pre- and post-procedure protocols, by different surgeons. Techniques continue to evolve and evidence in the form of controlled data is not available for all techniques and protocols being used; there is also a debate as to who can do what, what should be the training for staff, role of technicians.

Longevity of Hair Follicles after Follicular Unit Transplant Surgery.

Background: The longevity of the grafted hair follicles is still debated and there are limited literature available on this topic.

Aim: To assess the longevity of transplanted hairs after follicular unit transfer (FUT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 112 patients who had undergone FUT were included in the study and their results at the end of 4 years were compared with the 1 year post surgery results by standardized images.

Plucked Hair as a Substrate for Indirect Immunofluorescence in Cases of Pemphigus Vulgaris.

Introduction: Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) is used to determine the circulating autoantibodies in cases of Pemphigus. For IIF in Pemphigus several substrates had been used. This study was done to determine whether plucked hair can be utilized as a substrate for IIF in cases of Pemphigus.

DRESS Syndrome Secondary to Carbamazepine Therapy Presenting with Bilateral Acute Anterior Uveitis and Angle Closure Glaucoma.

Purpose: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare, life-threatening multi-system adverse drug reaction characterized by febrile skin rash, hematologic abnormalities, and involvement of internal organs. We report a case of DRESS syndrome in a child presenting with primary ophthalmic manifestations.

Case Report: An 11-year-old boy presented with severe pain and diminished vision in both eyes six weeks after starting carbamazepine therapy for seizure disorder.

Controversies in Hair Transplantation.

Hair transplantation being a relatively new field, several aspects raise issues and controversies. The issues refer to both ethics and evidence and how practitioners and the community need to deal with them. This article deals with few of such diverse issues as follicular unit transplantation versus follicular unit excision, safe donor area, platelet-rich plasma, and minimum qualification for performing hair transplantation.

Assembling a Hand-Held Trichotillometer and Determination of Epilation Force in Normal Individuals.

Aim: To assemble a simple, inexpensive hand-held trichotillometer and to determine the epilation force (EF) required to pluck the anagen hair and telogen hair from four regions of the scalp in healthy volunteers.

Materials And Methods: A simple hand-held trichotillometer was assembled by modifying a laboratory spring balance, and the instrument was calibrated after attachments. EF was measured in 30 healthy individuals on four regions of the scalp.

Guidelines for the management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: An Indian perspective.

Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are severe, life-threatening mucocutaneous adverse drug reactions with a high morbidity and mortality that require immediate medical care. The various immunomodulatory treatments include systemic corticosteroids, cyclosporine, intravenous immunoglobulin, cyclophosphamide, plasmapheresis and tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors.

Aim: The ideal therapy of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis still remains a matter of debate as there are only a limited number of studies of good quality comparing the usefulness of different specific treatments.

Outcomes of staple closure of the donor area during hair transplant by follicular unit transfer.

Background: Donor area closure in hair transplantation by follicular unit transfer (FUT) is being done by various techniques. This study aims to assess the outcomes of staple closure for donor area in FUT.

Aim: To study the outcome, efficacy and complications of staples in donor area closure for FUT.

Practicality in using diphenyl cyclo propenone for alopecia areata.

Diphenyl cyclo propenone (DPCP) is used as a topical immunomodulator in alopecia areata. It is a potent allergen. The process of procuring, dilution and application limits its wider use.

Single-hair follicular unit transplant for stable vitiligo.

Follicular unit transplant (FUT) is one of the surgical procedures which has been recently used to repigment a stable vitiligo patch. Single-hair FUT was done for a 30-year-old male with stable vitiligo patch on the upper lip. Repigmentation was noted in 4 weeks and complete pigmentation seen at 8 weeks.