<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Acne is one of the most common inflammatory chronic skin diseases that affect teenagers and continues into adulthood. Self-medication is common among medical students. Hence this present study was undertaken to study the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication for acne among medical students.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study included medical students of the second phase and final phase (Part I and Part II). A pretested questionnaire was given to them which included questions on knowledge, attitude and practice about self-medication for acne.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Self-medication for acne was seen in 240 (77.4%) students out of 310 students. Mild nature of illness was the most common reason for self-medication for acne followed by privacy. Most common source of information was seniors/friends/family members. Most of the students felt that self-medication is part of self-care (48%). Clindamycin was the most common drug self-medicated for acne.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Self-medication for acne is quite high among medical students. Self-medication is part of self-care so it should be encouraged for minor illness. But should be based on thorough knowledge and restricted to over the counter drugs.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> It is not surprising that patients hospitalized on nondermatology inpatient services are frequently found to have skin problems and present as a source of confusion for their admitting physicians. Aims and Objective: To analyse the reasons for dermatology referrals and its frequency, departments sending the referral and the impact on health care management.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted a study on 464 patient referrals over a 4‑year period. The demographic details, specialties requesting consultation, cause of referral, and dermatological advice have been recorded and analyzed.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Unspecified “skin rash” was the most common dermatologic condition for which skin referral was sought. The final diagnoses made by dermatologists revealed infections as most common skin disorder. Almost 48% of the patients referred as “skin rash” were diagnosed to be suffering from infectious disorders. The referring doctors could provide an accurate dermatological diagnosis only in 32% of cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Most of the nondermatologists fail to diagnose common skin disorders. This reveals need for more trained dermatologists to combat this problem and more extensive dermatological training for the medical students.</p>

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Pityriasis rosea (PR) is common, self-limited papulo-squamous dermatosis of unknown origin, which mainly appears in adolescents and young adults (10-35 years). It has a sudden onset, and in its typical presentation, the eruption is proceeded by a solitary patch termed “herald patch”, mainly located on the trunk. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical profile of pityriasis rosea.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The data was collected from patients attending the Department of Dermatology, Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital attached to Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga. It is a descriptive observational study. A total 79 patients suffering from pityriasis rosea who attended the outpatient department were included in the present study during the period from 2006 to 2007.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 79 patients studied, majority were from 11-20 years age group 33 (41.8%) followed by 27.8% from 21-30 years age group. The mean age of study population was found to be 21.3±6.4 years. 11% gave history of acne vulgaris, 8% each had history of atopy and drugs. Commonly observed prodromal symptoms were URTI (25.3%) and fever (17.7%). Herald patch was seen on trunk in majority of patients i.e. 36 (61%) followed by 18.6% cases on upper extremity and on neck (8.5%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study concludes that pityriasis is common in 11-20 years age group with male predominance having URTI as common prodromal symptom and typical rash.</p>