Effects of metformin on autoimmune immunoglobins and interferon-γ in patients with early diagnosed pemphigus vulgaris: a prospective clinical trial.

The management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulating effects of metformin on PV. The study was conducted in two phases: in the first phase, patients received routine first-line treatment (prednisolone plus azathioprine) for 2 months, then in the second phase, metformin was added to this regimen for another 2 months. After addition of metformin to the first-line medications, significant reductions were seen in serum IgG1 (reduced from 534.92 ± 134.83 mg/dL to 481.58 ± 130.46 mg/dL, P < 0.001), IgG4 (51.83 ± 27.26 mg/dL to 44.50 ± 26.05 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and interferon-γ (277.99 ± 108.71 pg/mL to 45.05 ± 17.080 pg/mL, P = 0.03) concentrat…

Effect of estrogen in malignant melanoma

Background Melanoma is associated with poor prognosis in its advanced stages. Potential influence of estrogen and its metabolites on melanoma growth has been suggested. Aims The objective of this review was to provide an overview on the evidence related to estrogen in malignant melanoma. Materials and methods Literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar and relevant cross-references of the retrieved articles was performed to review relevant published articles related to estrogen and its effects in malignant melanoma. Results Effect of estrogen signaling on a tissue largely depends on the relative expression of estrogen receptors (ER) α and β. Gender differences in melanoma may be explaine…

Prevalence of acne vulgaris and its clinico-epidemiological pattern in adult patients: Results of a prospective, observational study.

Background Acne is a common disorder in adolescents. The prevalence of acne in adults is also increasing. There are only a few Indian studies on the prevalence and clinical features of adult acne. Aims To evaluate the prevalence and possible etiological and aggravating factors of acne in adult population. Methods Adult patients more than 25 years with acne were enrolled, and detailed history and examination were recorded. Type of acne, age, gender, area of involvement, and associated factors were noted. Results Out of 24,056 adult patients, 180 had acne, with the prevalence of 0.74%. Mean age of patients with acne was 30.1 years. A total of 81.7% patients with acne were female and 68.3% had…

The relationship between stress and vitiligo during COVID‐19 pandemic

Cutaneous and Allergic reactions due to COVID‐19 vaccinations: A review

ABSTRACT Introduction The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has had an unprecedented impact on the overall health and the global economy. Vaccination is currently the most dependable strategy to end the pandemic, despite the slower‐than‐hoped‐for rollout, particularly for low‐to‐middle‐income countries, and the uncertain duration of protection afforded by vaccination. The spike protein of the virus (immunodominant antigen of the virus) is the main target of the approved and candidate SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines. This protein binds to the ACE2 receptor of the host cell, initiating the entry of the virus into the cell and the chain of subsequent events ending to Acute R…

Non‐invasive diagnostic techniques in pigmentary skin disorders and skin cancer

Background Diagnosis of pigmentary skin disorders, pre-cancerous and cancerous skin diseases is traditionally relied on visual assessment. The most widely applied invasive diagnostic technique is the skin biopsy. There have been significant technological advances in non-invasive diagnostic methods for skin disorders. Objective The objective of this article is to discuss different non-invasive diagnostic modalities, used in the diagnosis of pigmentary skin disorders and cutaneous cancers. Methods Comprehensive literature search was performed to screen articles related to non-invasive diagnostic techniques in pigmentary skin disorders and cutaneous cancers. Articles published in journals inde…

Can SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine increase the risk of reactivation of Varicella zoster? A systematic review

Abstract Introduction Although the COVID‐19 vaccination is deemed safe, exact incidence and nature if adverse effects, particularly dermatological ones, are still unknown. Objective To describe the demographic, clinical, morphological characteristics, outcomes, and timing of development of herpes zoster to the various COVID‐19 vaccines. And to identify on whether COVID‐19 vaccine has temporal relationship between development of herpes zoster (HZ). Methods We have performed a systemic review of articles from PubMed and Embase using MeSH and keywords like “Shingles,” “Herpes zoster,” “Varicella zoster,” “COVID‐19,” “Vaccine,” “SARS‐CoV‐2.” No filters including country of publication, language…

Could isotretinoin be a protective agent against COVID-19?: A dermatologist perspective.

Being a "trending" unique treatment for moderate-to-severe acne, isotretinoin (13-cis retinoic acid) (ISO) is currently considered by experts the first line treatment even for mild acne, unless there is an absolute contraindication. ISO was identified, among other retinoids, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells. Shoemark et al.1.

Treatment of Axillary hyperhidrosis

BACKGROUND Axillary hyperhidrosis characterized by excessive sweating in the axillary regions is a frustrating chronic autonomic disorder leading to social embarrassment, impaired quality of life and usually associated with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. Identifying the condition and its cause is central to the management. AIM The aim of this article is to discuss treatment options for axillary hyperhidrosis. METHODS Comprehensive literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar was performed to review relevant published articles related to diagnosis and treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. RESULTS Treatment modalities for axillary hyperhydrosis vary from topical and systemic agents to inject…

COVID‐19 and exacerbation of dermatological diseases: A review of the available literature

Abstract Since the emergence of the new coronavirus disease 19 (COVID‐19) pandemic, there has been a concern for the patients with chronic autoimmune diseases including dermatological conditions over the potential exacerbation of these underlying conditions after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV2). We performed a systematic review to evaluate presentations, postinfection change in the manifestation, diagnosis, and management of flare‐ups of underlying dermatologic disease in patients with COVID‐19. A total of 17 articles were recovered reporting on flare‐ups of dermatological disease including pemphigus vulgaris, psoriasis, subacute cutaneous lupus er…

Noninvasive diagnostic techniques of port wine stain.

Port-wine stain (PWS) is a benign capillary malformation that most commonly occurs in the head and neck. It is present at birth and progresses over time. It is formed by progressive dilatation of post-capillary venules and is associated with hypertrophy and nodularity with increasing age, leading to cosmetic disfigurement and psychological aggravation. It is caused by genetic mosaicism in GNAQ and GNA11 genes. Histopathology is the gold standard for assessment of PWS but it is invasive and may cause scarring. Inadequate characterization of the lesions may predispose to inadequate treatment protocols as well as higher treatment dosages. Clinical evaluation of treatment efficacy is subjective…

New diagnostic and imaging technologies in dermatology

INTRODUCTION Diagnosis of dermatological disorders is primarily based on clinical examination in combination with histopathology. However, clinical findings alone may not be sufficient for accurate diagnosis and cutaneous biopsies are being associated with morbidity. OBJECTIVE The objective of this article is to review the newer technologies along with their applications, limitation and future prospectus. METHODOLOGY Comprehensive literature search was performed using electronic online databases "PubMed" and "Google Scholar". Articles published in English language were considered for the review. RESULTS In order to improve and/or widen the armamentarium in dermatologic disease diagnosis and…

Psoriasis: Embarking a dynamic shift in the skin microbiota

Recent interest has arisen regarding the role of microbiome and its composition in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Numerous studies have shown that there are alterations in skin flora arrangement between normal individuals and psoriatic patients. Psoriasis exacerbation could be interconnected with epidermal or mucosal colonization with streptococci, Malassezia, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans. The role of cutaneous and gut microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis has recently been studied in both human and animal models. In this review, we try to evaluate various pathogenic mechanisms linking the microbiota and psoriasis. The literature research included peer-reviewed articles which i…

Complications of Botulinum toxin A: An update review.

Cosmetic surgery procedures have increased manifolds all over the world owing to the ever-increasing demand of people to look beautiful and young. Injectable treatments like botulinum toxin are becoming more popular owing to their rapid, well-defined, and lasting results for the reduction of facial fine lines, wrinkles, and facial rejuvenation. These emerging treatments are quite safe but can have certain adverse effects. In this article, we have highlighted the complications and side effects of botulinum toxin based on the anatomical location. The possible causes and precautions to prevent these complications are also discussed. The search of literature included peer-reviewed articles incl…