Lichen planus pigmentosus is a fairly common disorder of pigmentation in Indians, but reports comprising a sizeable number of patients are lacking in the literature. We now describe the clinical and epidemiological features and histopathological findings for 124 lichen planus pigmentosus patients. A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients attending our centre during the past 12 years was undertaken. Of the 124 patients (56 male, 68 female), the majority (48.4%) had the disease for 6 months to 3 years. The face and neck were the commonest sites affected with pigmentation varying from slate grey to brownish-black. The pattern of pigmentation was mostly diffuse (77.4%), followed by reticular (9.7%), blotchy (7.3%) and perifollicular (5.6%). Lichen planus was noted in 19 patients with typical histopathological changes of the disorder. Lichen planus pigmentosus, a distinct clinical entity commonly encountered in the Indian population, should be considered in the spectrum of lichenoid disorders as a variant of lichen planus.

To study the clinical and epidemiologic profile of childhood vitiligo, we retrospectively analyzed the data of children with vitiligo attending the pigmentary clinic of our center. Of the 625 children seen over 10 years, 357 (57.1%) were girls and 268 (42.9%) were boys. As compared to adult patients with vitiligo, this sex difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean age of onset of the disease was 6.2 years. Vitiligo vulgaris (generalized vitiligo) was the most common type, followed by focal, segmental, acrofacial, mucosal, and universal, in that order. The most frequent site of onset was the head and neck, followed by the lower limbs, trunk, upper limbs, and mucosae. Leukotrichia was present in 77 patients (12.3%), while Koebner phenomenon was observed in 71 patients (11.3%). Halo nevi were observed in 29 patients (4.4%). Seventy-six patients (12.2%) had a family history of vitiligo. Eight patients (1.3%) had an associated autoimmune disease. These associated disorders were alopecia areata in two patients, and diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, Addison disease, polyglandular syndrome, and pemphigus vulgaris in one patient each.

Our findings differ from those of previous studies in showing a delayed onset, equal sex distribution, less frequent facial involvement, uncommon guttate lesions, more frequent involvement of the soles, and a less frequent history of familial occurrence.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and epidemiological profiles of patients with vitiligo attending the pigmentary dermatoses clinic. One thousand four hundred and thirty-six patients were seen between 1989 and 1993. Males constituted 54.5% of the group and females 45.5%. Mean age of the patients was 25 years, and average disease duration at the time of hospital visit was 3.7 years. Vitiligo vulgaris was the commonest form of the disease in 1002 (69.8%) patients followed by focal vitiligo in 214 (14.9%) and segmental vitiligo in 72 (5.0%). The sites of onset were the face, trunk, and legs in descending order of frequency. Less than 20% body area involvement was seen in 1356 (94.4%) of the patients. Leukotrichia was present in 165 (11.5%), and Koebner's phenomenon was observed in 72 (5.0%). Twenty nine (2.0%) patients had associated halo nevi. Of the various diseases associated with vitiligo, atopic/nummular eczema was seen in 20 (1.4%) patients, bronchial asthma in 10 (0.7%), diabetes mellitus in 8 (0.6%), thyroid disease in 7 (0.5%), and alopecia in 6 (0.4%). A family history of vitiligo was present in 165 (11.5%) patients.

Vitiligo is associated with high psychiatric morbidity. There is a need to develop cross-cultural database on psychosocial aspects and psychiatric morbidity associated with vitiligo.

The natural history of LP in children was essentially similar to that in adults. Unusual features, such as involvement of the palms and soles and upper eyelids, were observed. Actinic LP, mimicking melasma, as reported in adult women, also seems to occur in children.

Lichen planus is a dermatosis of unknown origin with a very limited frequency in children. Over a period of one and a half years we observed 17 cases of childhood lichen planus. The classic form of the disease as seen in adults was the most common in these children; unlike adults, however, mucosal and nail involvement was uncommon. The natural history of the disease was similar to that in adults.

Clinical and epidemiological data from 1220 patients with psoriasis is presented. Psoriatics accounted for 2.3% of the total dermatology outpatients. There was a distinct male preponderance. Mean age of onset was lower in women at 27.6 years, although the severity of the disease was the same in both sexes. Family history was positive in just 2% of patients. Plaque type disease was the most common, seen in over 93% of the patients. Lesional pruritus was a problem in 65%. Remission in summer was experienced by 43%. The scalp was the first site of onset in 25.2%. Nail and joint involvement were seen in 55.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Complete remission of disease activity was experienced by 35% of the patients during some part of the year in the course of their disease.