Pankaj Shukla

Topical peptides as cosmeceuticals

Peptides are known to have diverse biological roles, most prominently as signaling/regulatory molecules in a broad variety of physiological processes including defense, immunity, stress, growth, homeostasis and reproduction. These aspects have been used in the field of dermatology and cosmetology to produce short, stable and synthetic peptides for extracellular matrix synthesis, pigmentation, innate immunity and inflammation. The evolution of peptides over the century, which started with the discovery of penicillin, has now extended to their usage as cosmeceuticals in recent years. Cosmeceutical peptides may act as signal modulators of the extracellular matrix component, as structural peptides, carrier peptides and neurotransmitter function modulators. Transdermal delivery of peptides can be made more effective by penetration enhancers, chemical modification or encapsulation of peptides. The advantages of using peptides as cosmeceuticals include their involvement in many physiological functions of the skin, their selectivity, their lack of immunogenicity and absence of premarket regulatory requirements for their use. However, there are disadvantages: clinical evidence for efficacy is often weak, absorption may be poor due to low lipophilicity, high molecular weight and binding to other ingredients, and prices can be quite high.

Antioxidants in dermatology.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals produced by various environmental insults such as ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoke and air pollutants, thereby preventing cellular damage. The role of oxidative stress and antioxidants is known in diseases like obesity, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimers disease. Herein we discuss the effects of oxidative stress on the skin and role of antioxidants in dermatology.

Association of bullous pemphigoid with malignancy: A myth or reality?

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disorder of the skin. The association of BP with internal malignancy has always been a matter of debate with no consensus reached despite many published case reports and clinical trials. However, we report a hitherto unreported association of BP with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, wherein the patient had a recalcitrant downhill course despite adequate treatment measures with control of skin lesions being achieved only following excision of the tumor, and relapse coinciding with detection of metastasis. Hence, given the clinical behavior, it is reasonable to speculate that the association of malignancy was more than co-incidental.

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis post chemotherapy in a patient of non-hogkins lymphoma: A case report

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) was originally described by Ofuji in Japanese patients without any systemic disease. Later it was widely associated with HIV. Lately a large number of hematological malignancies have been associated with EPF. We hereby report an association of non-Hogkins lymphoma with EPF, probably the first in Indian context.

A study of clinical patterns of acute radiation dermatitis among patients attending dermatology outpatient department at tertiary center in Western India

Background: Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a commonly encountered adverse effect of definitive radiation therapy. The severity of RD is influenced by multiple patient and treatment-related factors. Radiation depletes the basal cell layer of skin and initiates a complex sequence of events leading to dose-dependent acute or late sequelae. The management of RD requires a multidisciplinary approach. Objectives: The aim is to highlight the pattern and the profile of patients with acute RD attending dermatology outpatient department. Materials and Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study of 47 consecutive adult patients with acute RD attending skin outpatient department over a period of 12 months. Results: A total of 47 patients of RD attended the skin clinic, of which were 16 males and 31 were female. The RD was reported within the first 2 weeks of initiation of therapy in most of the patients. Grade 1 RD was the least common presentation. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of grading the RD, for the appropriate management of the patients suffering from the same and is also a step toward the prevention of the RD.

Becker's nevus among siblings

How to cite this article: Pai VV, Shukla P, Bhobe M. Beckers nevus among siblings. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2016;82:359. Received: March, 2014. Accepted: September, 2014. Source of Support: Nil. Confl ict of Interest: None declared. Sir, Becker’s nevus or Becker’s melanosis is a relatively common benign condition, which presents as a localized hypermelanosis and hypertrichosis.[1] The familial form of this condition is rare and we were unable to find any previous reports of its occurrence among siblings.

Eruptive collagenoma: A rarely reported entity in Indian literature

Eruptive collagenomas are non familial connective tissue nevi of unknown etiology presented with an abrupt onset. While most cases are reported in young adults, there is a paucity of literature in children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl, who presented with multiple asymptomatic, papules, plaques and nodules on the face, trunk and upper extremities with no systemic involvement. Histopathologically, the lesion showed thickened homogenized collagen fibres highlighted by Massons trichrome stain and paucity in elastic fibres by Verhoeff-van Gieson stain, confirming the diagnosis of eruptive collagenoma.

Vertically growing nail - A rare entity.

On examination, the left index finger nail showed a vertical growth of 2.5 cm [Figures 1 and 2]. The nail plate was thickened, brownish grey with loss of normal convexity and appeared conical in shape with a broad base and tapered rounded apex. The surface showed longitudinal ridges with pits. The pits were small, shallow, randomly placed, and numerous at the lower half of the nail. The proximal nail fold showed a brownish black discoloration with scaling, whereas the lateral nail folds appeared thickened with blackish discoloration. The hyponychium showed the presence of greyish white debris. The nail bed was not visualized. There was no visible bony deformity. Other nails were normal. Cutaneous, hair, and dental examinations were unremarkable.

SkIndia Quiz 17: Linear dermatoses over the hand and foot

Department of Dermatology, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India A 20-year-old male student presented to the dermatology outpatient department with a history of thickening over the right palm and left foot since childhood. The lesions were asymptomatic. There was no history of similar lesions among the family members. On examination, linear hyperkeratosis was noted along the lateral margin of the right palm extending from the thenar eminence to the thumb tip. Similar linear SkIndia Quiz 17

Combined planar and eruptive xanthoma in a patient with type lla hyperlipoproteinemia.

Granuloma annulare‐like histology is a reaction pattern that is generally idiopathic, but has been attributed to a variety of inciting factors. The exact mechanism for this pattern is unknown but existing theories include type IV delayed hypersensitivity, Th1 inflammatory reaction with IFN‐γ‐provoking lymphocytes, lymphocyte‐mediated activation of monocytes, and elastic tissue injury as the primary alteration.[7]