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Summary Background Platelet‐rich plasma is rich in growth factors that promote differentiation and growth of dermal papilla cells by various signaling pathways. Dermoscopy is handy, bedside tool that helps to improve diagnostic accuracy in various hair disorders. Objectives To evaluate and study the role of dermoscopy in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) pre‐ and posttreatment with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). Methods It is a prospective comparative study. Twenty male patients with AGA, aged 18‐45 years with modified Norwood‐Hamilton classification grade II‐VI were included in this study. Patients were given platelet‐rich plasma injections every 3 week for a period of 3 months. Dermoscopy was performed with 10 x magnifications in polarized mode at baseline and at 3 months from the baseline and photographs were taken. Patients were evaluated based on following dermoscopic findings (a) hair count, (b) hair density, (c) hair diameter diversity, perifollicular pigmentation, yellow dots, multi‐hair follicular units, honeycomb pigment pattern and white dots, (d) patient's hair growth assessment score. Results Posttherapy, patients showed significant improvement in hair count (27.4%), hair diversity (84.2%), increase in number of thick, terminals hairs, reduction in yellow dots (60%), perifollicular pigmentation (92.3%) was appreciated. Hair pull test negative after treatment in 10 patients (50%). Patient's hair growth assessment score showed 50%‐75% improvement in 7 (35%) patients. Conclusion Dermoscopy helps to easily evaluate and compare the therapeutic response pre‐ and posttreatment which can be easily documented and visualized at every visit.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory systemic disease. Methotrexate acts by inhibiting dihydrofolic reductase enzyme. Apremilast is an oral PDE4 inhibitor approved by US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of psoriasis.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is hospital based comparative study conducted from February 2018 to August 2018. Seventy patients above 18 years of age with chronic plaque psoriasis were divided into 35 patients in each group and were treated with oral Apremilast (30 mg twice daily) and oral methotrexate (15 mg per week in three divided doses with a 12-hour interval between doses and tab folic acid on methotrexate free days) and were evaluated every 4 weeks for a period of 16 weeks and followed-up at 24th week. Outcome was assessed on basis of psoriasis area-and-severity index score (PASI), psoriasis disability index (PDI) and clinical photographs.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> % of improvement in Group-A patients (76.8%) after 16 weeks of treatment was relatively more (p&lt;0.05) as compared to group B (71.5%). At the end of 16 weeks PASI score in methotrexate group was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) as compared to group B, PDI became 17.90±3.87 in group A and was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) as compared to group B which was 20.34±2.98. Side effects observed were comparatively less in group A patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> On comparing the two drugs, methotrexate was comparatively better tolerated and had better efficacy and safety. More studies are required to further prove the efficacy of Apremilast in treatment of psoriasis.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Contact dermatitis (CD) is an altered state of reactivity; occur due to direct contact with noxious agents in our environment. Face is a very common site for CD.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Prospective hospital based study was conducted at A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore from June 2018 to November 2018. Fifty cases aged above 18 years with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) over face who gave written informed consent were enrolled. A complete history was taken and detailed clinical examination was done. Patch testing was done over the back in all patients which was removed after 48 hours and positive result was recorded based on the recommendation of the international Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG).<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The most common clinical pattern observed was pigmented contact dermatitis(PCD) (70%), followed by irritation (6%), acneiform eruptions (5%) and contact urticaria (2%). Out of 50 patients, 20 patients developed CD to fragrances and perfumes. 14 patients developed to soaps and shampoos. On patch testing, most common allergen in fragrances/perfumes was fragrance mix (52.9%). In soaps and shampoos it was triclosan (68.4%), parabens (31.5%). Sesquiterpene lactone in parthenium plant (4%), Paraphenylenediamine in hair dye (8%). In face creams were gallate mix and cetrimide among metals, nickel and chromium (6%). In case of kumkum it was paraphenylenediamine (4%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Amongst the various patterns of contact dermatitis, PCD to cosmetics, fragrances and daily care products was most common pattern observed and the main allergens were triclosan, fragrance mix and balsum of Peru.</p>

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous units which has great psychological impact and causes depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> It was a hospital-based, cross-sectional, prestructured, questionnaire-based study done in 120 individuals in the age group 12-30 years using two specific HRQoL indices-Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) and Acne-specific Quality of Life (Acne-QOL) to understand the impact of acne on the quality of life.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Male to female ratio was 2:3. The mean age was 19.23±1.7. The mean CADI score was 5.3. Majority of the patients had grade 2 acne. Based on the CADI questionnaire, the number of males (61.7%) and females (60.2%) was maximum in the medium score. Grade 1 acne had maximum number of patients showing low score followed by grade 2 acne. Based on the acne-QoL questionnaire, maximum patients were in the 11-20 score range, followed by the 21-30 score range.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Acne is not only a cosmetic problem, but also has significant psychological impact. Hence, impact of acne on QoL must be considered in the management of facial acne.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Facial scars prompt restorative issues and have mental impacts, for example, humiliation, poor confidence, and social isolation. This study intends to assess efficacy and safety of platelet rich plasma (PRP) versus CO₂ laser in post acne scar treatment.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> It is an outpatient based comparative study.  All patients enlisted in this study were separated into two groups, ten in each treatment group. In group A, patients received PRP month to month for 3 sittings and followed up eight weeks after the third sitting. In group B, patients received fractional CO₂ laser month to month for 3 sittings and followed up eight weeks after the third sitting. Improvement of acne scars was assessed utilizing digital photographs with identical camera settings and Goodman and Baron’s qualitative grading system at beginning, after each sitting and followed up eight weeks after the third sitting. Patients subjectively evaluated clinical improvement eight weeks after the last sitting. Software (SPSS, version 16.0 statistical packages) was used.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Assessment using qualitative acne scars grading system prior to and after treatment as well as patient’s subjective assessment 2 months after the third treatment session showed significant improvement in both groups. The baseline scores before treatment for group A and B were similar (p=0.7678) and final scores of both treatment groups showed no significant difference (p=0.8011) after treatment.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study shows that PRP as well as fractional CO₂ laser result in significant clinical change in the quality of post acne scars.</p>