Rosacea is a common condition affecting the skin of the face, with less frequent involvement of the eyes. Nonspecific ocular complications are similar to those found in patients with seborrhoea, blepharitis, recurrent chalazia, styes and trichiasis, hyperaemic conjunctivitis, with occasional marginal corneal infiltrates or ulcers. Specific complications include nodular conjunctivitis and episcleritis, which are rare, and the typical progressive keratitis which occurs in 5% of patients with rosacea.I Oxytetracycline given orally in low dosage for more than 6 weeks is a well recognised treatment for rosacea of the skin2' and is also reassuringly safe.7 Tetracycline has been used topically in ocular rosacea,8 and there is increasing evidence that rosacea keratitis may also respond to systemic tetracyclines.I "" I The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of these observations by means of a double-blind limited cross-over trial. Material and methodsPatients attending dermatology clinics with confirmed rosacea were questioned for possible eye symptoms. Sixty-five were subsequently screened by an ophthalmologist and were admitted to the trial if Correspondence to Dr

Summary Erythema gyratum repens (EGR) is a rare and distinctive eruption which is widely regarded as a marker of internal malignancy (Rook, Wilkinson & Ebling, 1979). We report two cases of pityriasis rubra pilaris which presented in the classical form, but developed EGR during the resolving stage of the condition. Malignancy was not detected in cither case, despite extensive investigation.

Summary A 32‐year‐old woman is described who showed widespread papular, warty or linear lesions which have remained unchanged over a period of 9 years observation. Clinically and histo‐logically we consider the diagnosis to be inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal naevus. Unusual features were the relatively late onset and the widespread and bilateral distribution.

Wigs were originally popularised in Britain by Queen Elizabeth I, who is said to have owned no fewer than 80, and Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have worn one at her execution. Louis XIII of France went prematurely bald in 1624 and by disguising his baldness with a wig, started a fashion that lasted over 150 years. In the seventeenth century the grandest wigs were worn by the wealthy and important, hence the expression "big wigs." The demand for wigs was so great that children were forbidden to go out alone in case thieves cut off their hair. Today five types of wigs are worn: necessity wigs to cover baldness, fashion or fun wigs, legal wigs, wigs worn for religious reasons, and theatrical wigs. Necessity and fun wigs merely differ in their indications for use. A variety offibres are used in their construction, but the commonest material is acrylic, which makes high quality and fairly cheap wigs.

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