A Cross-Sectional Study on Post-Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Hair Loss at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Severe acute respiratory virus syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was responsible for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. As patients recovered from COVID-19 infection, hair loss was increasingly observed as a distressing symptom. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of patients with post COVID-19 hair loss between July to December 2021 at a tertiary care centre. Detailed history, clinical examination, trichoscopy and biochemical tests were performed and recorded. COVID-19 disease severity was assessed based on duration of COVID-19 infection and place of management. Results: The study included 120 patients with mean age being 39.6 years. Majority of the patients were females, treated at home and had COVID-19 infection for >2 weeks. Mean visual analog scale (VAS) score for stress was 5.25. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 56.7% and low ferritin in 30% of cases. Mean time of onset of hair loss post COVID-19 was 49 days. Patients mainly presented with diffuse hair loss. Trichodynia was present in 15.8% of cases. The degree of hair loss was severe in 55.8% of the subjects. Positive hair pull test was seen in 65% of patients. Most common trichoscopic features included single hair follicles’ (81.7%) and vellus hair >10% (60%). Conclusions: The mean time of onset of hair loss post COVID-19 infection was less than 2 months. Majority patients had diffuse pattern and severe degree of hair loss. Trichoscopy can aid in unmasking co-existing patterned hair loss in patients presenting clinically with diffuse hair loss.

Clinicopathological appraisal of cutaneous cysts: A 2-year retrospective observational study

Background: Cysts, primarily epidermal and trichilemmal, are commonly seen in clinical practice. Rupture, infection, inflammation, and rarely malignant transformation may complicate the cysts. This study aims to analyze the clinicohistological features of cutaneous cysts. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients with the diagnosis of cyst confirmed on histopathology over the past two years (2020–2021) was performed. Clinical details comprised of age, gender, site of involvement, size, duration, and associated symptoms. Histological examination included cyst wall lining, type of keratinization, complications like rupture, inflammation, foreign body giant cell reaction, calcification, and malignant change. Results: A total of 324 cases with mean age of 37.9 years and equal gender distribution were identified. Most frequent diagnosis was epidermal cyst in 89.8%, followed by trichilemmal cyst in 8.9% of cases. Rare types included follicular hybrid cyst, verrucous cyst, vellus hair cyst, and steatocystoma. Most common complication was cyst rupture in 54.3% of epidermal cysts. Proliferating epidermal and proliferating trichilemmal cysts were noted in one and two cases, respectively. Two cases revealed malignancy arising in the wall of epidermal cyst. Limitations: The retrospective study design and non-availability of follow-up data, especially for proliferating cysts and cysts with malignant transformation were the main limitations of this study. Conclusion: Histopathologic examination of excised cutaneous cysts is paramount in reaching accurate diagnosis of the type of cyst and associated secondary changes to enable appropriate management

Isolated benign primary cutaneous plasmacytosis in an adult Indian male

Primary cutaneous plasmacytosis (PCP) is an uncommon reactive lymphoplasmacytic disorder of uncertain etiology. It has been mainly described in patients of Japanese descent, with only few reports in Caucasians and Chinese. We present a case of isolated benign PCP in a 45-year-old man, who clinically manifested with a localized ulcerated nodule overlying a hyperpigmented plaque on the upper back. To the best of our knowledge, PCP from India has not been described before

Nonmelanoma skin cancers: An Indian perspective

Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), which mainly include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are infrequent in the Indian subcontinent, compared with white skinned individuals. Although BCC in most cases arises de novo on sun-exposed sites, it may rarely develop in photoprotected areas and in the setting of certain risk factors. In contrast to BCC, SCC in dark skin has a tendency to develop in nonhealing ulcers, chronic scars, and inflammatory and infectious dermatoses. Histopathology is the gold standard in confirming the diagnosis and determining the prognosis. As the existing literature on NMSCs in India is limited mostly to case reports and few reviews only, this article is an attempt to create an awareness regarding the premalignant potential of an expanding list of cutaneous lesions, which would help in timely diagnosis and prompt treatment of NMSCs

Isolated benign primary cutaneous plasmacytosis in an adult Indian male

Primary cutaneous plasmacytosis (PCP) is an uncommon reactive lymphoplasmacytic disorder of uncertain etiology. It has been mainly described in patients of Japanese descent, with only few reports in Caucasians and Chinese. We present a case of isolated benign PCP in a 45-year-old man, who clinically manifested with a localized ulcerated nodule overlying a hyperpigmented plaque on the upper back. To the best of our knowledge, PCP from India has not been described before