Clinical Use of Super-Bioavailable Itraconazole for the Management of Dermatophytosis: Consensus Statement by Dermatologists from India via the Modified Delphi Technique.

Super-bioavailable itraconazole (SB ITZ) overcomes the limitations of conventional itraconazole (CITZ) such as interindividual variability and reduced bioavailability. It has been approved for systemic mycoses in Australia and Europe as 50 mg and the USA as 65 mg and in India as 50 mg, 65 mg, 100 mg, and 130 mg. However, data on the ideal dose and duration of SB ITZ treatment in managing dermatophytosis are insufficient.

The Safety and Effectiveness of Decapeptide in Patients With Vitiligo: A Real-World Study.

Background Vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune depigmenting skin disease, affects a significant portion of the global population. One of the topical treatment options for vitiligo is basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-related decapeptide (bFGFrP) 0.1% solution.

Platelet rich plasma in treatment of topical steroid damaged face: A retrospective analytical study.

Topical steroid damaged face (TSDF) is an entity caused by unsupervised and prolonged use of topical corticosteroids (TC) on the face. There is currently no definite treatment that can partially or completely reverse the changes seen in the facial skin in TSDF. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a biological product that is obtained from autologous centrifuged blood and it contains multiple growth factors for the skin and other body tissues.

Androgen receptor coregulator long noncoding RNA CTBP1-AS is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Kashmiri women.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorder in premenopausal women. Even though the pathophysiology of PCOS is complex and obscure, the disorder is prominently considered as the syndrome of hyperandrogenism. C-Terminal binding protein 1 antisense (CTBP1-AS) acts as a novel androgen receptor regulating long noncoding RNA (lncRNA).

Sweet syndrome after Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222) in an elderly female.

Vaccination for COVID19 infection is in full swing all around the world and while the vaccines are considered overall safe, many cutaneous and extracutaneous adverse effects have been reported after their use. Local injection-site reactions are the commonest adverse effect described with the use of these vaccines. We describe a case of Sweet syndrome in an elderly female after the first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222).

Is targeted UVB as effective as excimer light phototherapy in treatment of vitiligo?

Excimer light (EL) and targeted UVB (TUVB) devices have been used successfully in repigmenting vitiligo. To compare the repigmenting efficacy and safety of EL with TUVB device in vitiligo. The study was conducted retrospectively on patients of vitiligo who had received either EL (Group A) or TUVB (Group B) from year 2015 to 2020.

Alopecia areata severity index (AASI): A reliable scoring system to assess the severity of alopecia areata on face and scalp-a pilot study.

Background: All scoring systems used in Alopecia Areata (AA) focus mainly on scalp and cannot assess the severity or treatment response when AA involves the beard hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

Aim: This study describes and assesses the reliability of a new scoring system "Alopecia Areata Severity Index" (AASI) for measuring the severity of AA of scalp, beard, and upper face.

Methods: Scalp hair, beard hair, upper face (eyebrows and eyelashes) were individually assessed and the severity of AA was scored from 0 to 100 (0-50 in case of upper face).

Lasers Use in Dermatology Practice in the Evolving COVID-19 Scenario: Recommendations by SIG Lasers (IADVL Academy).

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the entire world by storm. Almost all dermatology laser procedures are considered non-essential and there is a consensus that they should be deferred till the threat of the COVID-19 is well and truly over. The article presents recommendations for the use of lasers and energy based devices in a safe manner during and in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic.

Excimer light therapy in childhood segmental vitiligo: Early treatment gives better results.

Segmental vitiligo (SV) is considered to be relatively less responsive form of vitiligo to medical treatment. While excimer light (EL) has shown great promise in treating localized vitiligo especially on face and neck, its efficacy in SV is not reported so commonly. We conducted a retrospective study on patients of childhood SV who had received EL therapy from January 2016 to December 2018 at our institute.

Unconventional Uses of Laser Hair Removal: A Review.

Laser hair removal since its availability has been primarily used for aesthetic purposes. Over the years, it has emerged as an important therapeutic modality in various dermatological and surgical disorders, both as an adjuvant and as a monotherapy. Depending on the skin type, all laser hair removal systems have been used with good results and minimal complications.

Apremilast is effective in controlling the progression of adult vitiligo: A case series.

There are limited treatment options available to control the progression of vitiligo and most of these treatment options carry the risk of both short-term as well as long-term adverse effects. Apremilast has emerged as a promising treatment option in psoriasis and many other cutaneous disorders. We report herein the successful use of oral apremilast therapy in controlling the progression of adult onset vitiligo in 13 patients.

Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Combination with Topical Corticosteroid Application in Resistant Alopecia Areata: A Case Series.

Introduction: Intradermal steroid injections are used as treatment option in resistant alopecia areata. However, it is difficult and quite painful to treat large areas of alopecia with this modality.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety profile of a combination of fractional carbon dioxide (CO) treatment followed by topical corticosteroid application in resistant alopecia areata.

Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing in Combination With Potent Topical Corticosteroids for Hypertrophic Burn Scars in the Pediatric Age Group: An Open Label Study.

Background: Lasers and potent topical corticosteroids are used as therapeutic options in hypertrophic burn scars.

Objective: To assess the therapeutic effect of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in combination with potent topical corticosteroids on hypertrophic burn scars in pediatric age group.

Methods: Ten children (5-12 years) with postburn hypertrophic scars were treated with 3 to 5 sessions of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing at 1-month intervals, and triamcinolone suspension was applied immediately after each laser session.

Methods to overcome poor responses and challenges of laser hair removal in dark skin.

Conventional and advance technologies are available for laser hair removal. Complete and permanent hair reduction is not yet possible by treatment with lasers. Ideal patient for any conventional laser hair removal treatment is one who has thick, dark terminal hair, light skin and normal hormonal status.

Lasers in Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Lasers have come up as the newest therapeutic modality in dermatological conditions including melasma. In this article, as a group of experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society in collaboration with South Asian Pigmentary Disorders Forum (SPF), we have tried to discuss the lasers which have been used in melasma and formulate simple consensus guidelines. Following thorough literature search, we have summarised the rationale of using the lasers and the supporting evidences have also been provided.

Chemical Peels in Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Melasma is a notorious dermatosis, often resistant to treatment. Chemical peeling constitutes an acceptable option of management of melasma (of any type and duration). In this article, as a group of experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society (PDS) in collaboration with South Asian Pigmentary Forum (SPF), we have tried to elaborate the various chemical peeling agents for the treatment of melasma.

Medical Management of Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Melasma is one of the most common hyperpigmentary disorders found mainly in women and dark-skinned patients. Sunlight, hormones, pregnancy, and genetics remain the most implicated in the causation of melasma. Although rather recalcitrant to treatment, topical agents such as hydroquinone, modified Kligman's Regime, azelaic acid, kojic acid, Vitamin C, and arbutin still remain the mainstay of therapy with sun protection being a cornerstone of therapy.

Depigmentation with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in universal vitiligo: a long-term follow-up study of 4 years.

Q-switched (QS) lasers are used for depigmentation in universal vitiligo, but there is limited data on long-term results after laser treatment. This study was conducted to assess the safety and long-term follow-up results of QS Nd:YAG laser treatment in combination with need-based topical depigmentation therapy for universal vitiligo. A retrospective study was performed on patients with universal vitiligo who had received QS Nd:YAG laser treatment from 2010 to 2013.

Ultrathin Skin Grafting in Resistant Stable Vitiligo: A Follow-up Study of 8 Years in 370 Patients.

Background: Ultrathin skin grafting (UTSG) is a tissue grafting technique used in resistant stable vitiligo.

Objective: To assess long-term follow-up results achieved with UTSG in vitiligo.

Methods: Over a span of 8 years, a total of 415 patients with stable vitiligo were treated with UTSG at the authors' institute.

Varied Presentations of Cutaneous Rhinosporidiosis: A Report of Three Cases.

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous disorder of infective etiology and it frequently affects the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Involvement of skin in rhinosporidiosis is unusual and it may manifest itself in a diverse manner mimicking several common dermatological conditions. Three cases of cutaneous rhinosporidiosis with different presentations are reported here to highlight the manifold nature of the condition.