Pruritus is a common symptom during pregnancy in 3-14% of all pregnancies. Pregnant women are as susceptible as non-pregnant women to ordinary pruritic skin disorders, but there are certain disorders, peculiar to pregnancy called as specific dermatoses of pregnancy. All these specific dermatoses of pregnancy are associated with primary skin lesions except pruritus gravidarum, which was only secondary skin lesions like excoriation marks. The incidence of pruritus gravidarum varies from 0.02 to2.4%. Several reports have shown a significantly increased incidence of prematurity, antepartum foetal distress and postpartum haemorrhage among these cases. Hence, a careful monitoring of pregnancy is advised in all such cases. Hence, a careful monitoring of pregnancy is advised in all such cases.

Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation following photo toxic reaction due to cosmetics may account for pigmentation in some cases. The objective was to determine the absorption spectrum of commonly used soaps and hair oils available in Indian marker. By using UV-visible absorption spectrophotometer, the absorption spectrum of soaps and hair oils were determined. The mean absorption spectrum was 218 nm. Since none of the commonly used soaps and hair oils showed significant absorption in the range of 290-400 nm, we conclude that products tested are not responsible for photo toxic reaction or photo toxicity induced hyper pigmentation.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe mucocutaneous reaction pattern characterized by fever, systemic toxicity, tenderness, erythema and wide-spread exfoliation. A retrospective analysis from January 1990 to December 1996 was undertaken to see the changing trends and outcome of this disorder in a third world country. A total of eleven cases were found. Their mean age was 33.09 years and male to female ratio was 2.6:1. Various drugs implicated were paracetamol (2 cases), co-trimoxazole (2 cases), aspirin (1 case), thiacetazone (1 case), streptomycin (1 case), etc. On an average, the patients developed TEN at the interval of 4.68 days following the drug intake. Fever was presenting symptom in all cases and burning sensation preceded it in 6 of them. Percentage area. Involved ranged from 40% to 90%. Other target areas involved in order of decreasing frequency were oral mucosa (9 cases) genitalia (8 cases), eye (5 cases), palms and soles (3 cases). Oral prednisolonoe therapy was started in all cases in the range of 20 to 80 mg. According to the severity, extent of lesion and body weight. Epithelisation of denuded areas took an average of 10.6 days. Complications in the form of secondary infection (3 cases), septicaemia and death (1 case) and symblepheron formation (1 case) were noted.

A total of 1742 grafts were placed over 177 lesions on 29 regions in 110 individuals with stable cutaneous achromia. Sixty-seven of them were female and forty-three male. Age ranged between 6 and 71 years. Cases were followed up to a maximum period of 2 years. The extent of maximum pigment spread (MPS) ranged between 0 and 10 mm, with an overall average of approximately 5.5mm. Based on this finding, it was calculated that from a 2mm donor graft an average of 132.66 mm2 areas is regimented which is almost 42 times larger than the area of the graft itself.

Six cases of HIV associated psoriasis were found out of 75 HIV infected patients with various mucocutaneous disorders. All of them were male and their mean age was 42.3 year. Psoriasis was diagnosed at presentation in five case, however, in one it was diagnosed after 1 year of having been detected as HIV seropositive. The mean age at onset of psoriasis was 42 years. Psoriasis vulgaris occurred in 3 cases whereas two had psoriatic eryroderma and one had palm plantar psoriasis. Five of our patients were in group III of HIV disease and only one was in group II. To conclude, psoriasis may be the first manifestation of HIV infection.

A 45 year old male presented with an erythematous plaque involving the entire face and extending on to the front of neck of 23 years duration, without any history of remission of exacerbation. A skin biopsy revealed collection of lymphocytes in the dermis without follicle formation, around the blood vessels and appendages, consistent with histopathology of jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration. Patient responded dramatically to chloroquine with flattening of the lesion within 2 months.

One four-year female child tuft of hair with underlying soft subcutaneous mass over lumbosacral region since birth. In the midline, there was a dimple with central sinus and peripheral folds of skin. Spina bifida occulta was suspected. Diagnosis was confirmed by x-ray and patient was advised corrective surgery.

A case of acquired cutis laxa in a male is reported. The skin became loose and started hanging in folds after the patient received therapy for piles. Relevant literature is reviewed.

Neurofibromatosis is a comparatively common hereditary disease which may present with generalized cutaneous neurofibromas. However, penile neurofibromata are rarely reported. Herein, we present a 43 year old male patient with histopathology proved penile neurofibromata in addition to other lesions.

Haemangioma with thrombocytopaenia, known as kasabach merritt syndrome, is usually reported in association with large haemangiomas. However, it may be associated with multiple small angiomatous naevil. We report a case of angiokeratoma of Fordyce with underlying cavernous heamangioma, who developed kasabach merritt syndrome and was treated by excision of the scrotum. This treatment was undertaken because the patient had numerous lesions involving the entire scrotum.

Naevus comedonicus is a rare developmental anomaly of the pilosebaceous apparatus. It occurred bilaterally in a 23 year old pregnant woman. She noted exacerbations during two pregnancies, hitherto unreported in the literature.

A case of secondary syphilis with right facial nerve palsy is reported. A 28 year old unmarried male presented with diffuse maculopapular rash and facial nerve palsy. He had elevated while cells and protein in cerebrospinal fluid. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for VDRL and TPHA tests. Facial nerve palsy and maculopapular rash improved with penicillin therapy.

A case of juvenile xanthogranuloma is presented for it's rarity.

A 60 year old male presented with complaints of raised skin lesions over the suprapubic area which spontaneously fell off, only to recur. On examination, there were multiple verrucous, homy papules over suprapubic area. Dowling sign was positive and a clinical diagnosis of verruca vulgaris was made. But a biopsy from the lesion showed features of keratoacanthoma. Patient also had firm, discrete papules with crateriform depressions along the medical margin of palms, which can be grouped under marginal keratodermas.

Trichophyton simii infection is described in a male renal transplant recipient. With long duration of immunosuppression, the localized disease of the groin spreaded to involve other areas of the body including the toe nails. The varied clinical manifestations of this case, along with the mycological and mycopathological features are described.