Background: Melasma is a common cause of facial hyperpigmentation with significant cosmetic deformity. Although several treatment modalities are available, none is satisfactory. Aim: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TA) microinjections versus tranexamic acid with microneedling in melasma. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, randomised, open-label study with a sample size of 60; 30 in each treatment arms. Thirty patients were administered with localised microinjections of TA in one arm, and other 30 with TA with microneedling. The procedure was done at monthly intervals (0, 4 and 8 weeks) and followed up for three consecutive months. Clinical images were taken at each visit including modified Melasma Area Severity Index MASI scoring, patient global assessment and physician global assessment to assess the clinical response. Results: In the microinjection group, there was 35.72% improvement in the MASI score compared to 44.41% in the microneedling group, at the end of third follow-up visit. Six patients (26.09%) in the microinjections group, as compared to 12 patients (41.38%) in the microneedling group, showed more than 50% improvement. However, there were no major adverse events observed in both the treatment groups. Conclusions: On the basis of these results, TA can be used as potentially a new, effective, safe and promising therapeutic agent in melasma. The medication is easily available and affordable. Better therapeutic response to treatment in the microneedling group could be attributed to the deeper and uniform delivery of the medication through microchannels created by microneedling.

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Context: Chickenpox (varicella) is a common viral disease caused by Varicella zoster virus. Facial atrophic scars after varicella infection are not uncommon and pose a cosmetic problem. Like atrophic scars of other aetiologies, they are a difficult condition to treat. There are not enough references in the literature regarding efficient treatment of post varicella scars. High strength Trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which is known to cause dermal collagen remodelling, was used to treat varicella scars in the present study. Aims: The study was undertaken to assess the efficiency of Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars (CROSS) technique using 100% TCA in the treatment of atrophic facial post varicella scars. Settings and Design: Open label, pilot study. Materials and Methods: A total of 16 patients with atrophic facial post varicella scars were treated by focal application of 100% TCA solution by pressing down upon the scar surface by a toothpick (CROSS technique). Total 4 sittings were given at 2 weekly intervals and the results evaluated after 3 months of follow-up. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fischer's exact t-test. Results: All of the 13 patients who completed the study showed good clinical improvement, with 69% patients grading the response as excellent (>75%) improvement, whereas the rest 31% patients reporting good (51-75%) improvement. No significant complications were seen in any patient. Conclusions: CROSS technique using 100% TCA is a safe, cheap and effective therapy for the treatment of post varicella scars.

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Periorbital melanosis (under eye dark circles) is an often idiopathic cosmetically disturbing condition that is poorly responsive to currently available treatment modalities. We present the case of a 48-year-old man (skin phototype V) with significant idiopathic periorbital melanosis and who had good to excellent reduction in periorbital melanosis with the new DermaFrac ^TM , which combines microneedling with simultaneous infusion of a serum containing active ingredients. The possible mechanisms of benefit are discussed. DermaFrac ^TM may be an innovative and effective new treatment option for patients with periorbital melanosis.

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For more than a century, clinicians have attempted to utilise fat for the treatment of tissue deficiencies and contour abnormalities. Autologous fat transplantation for soft-tissue augmentation has become increasingly popular in recent years. The popularity of tumescent liposuction has brought renewed interest and accessibility of fat for transplantation. Newer techniques and approaches to augmentation have provided more predictable and reproducible results. Fat augmentation has become an effective, safe and reliable method for restoring volume and correcting the atrophy that accompanies senescence. In this review, the authors have described their approach to fat transplantation.

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Introduction: Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis and a common dermatologic skin disease that occurs on sun-exposed areas of face. Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of non-ablative 1,550 nm Erbium glass fractional laser therapy and compare results with those obtained with chemical peeling. Materials and Methods: We selected 30 patients of melasma aged between 20 years and 50 years for the study. The patients were divided into two groups of 15 patients each. Group I patients were subjected to four sessions of 1,550 nm Erbium glass non-ablative fractional laser at 3 weeks interval. In group II patients, four sessions of chemical peeling with 70% glycolic acid was performed. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, percentage reduction in Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score was seen in 62.9% in the laser group and 58.7% in the peels group. Conclusion: It was observed that 1,550 nm fractional laser is as effective as 70% glycolic acid peel in reducing MASI score in patients with melasma.

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Introduction: There are several options for forehead defect's reconstructions, including different local flaps, regional flaps, free flaps and skin grafts. We used double opposing rectangular advancement flaps (H-flap) in the upper forehead defects. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective case series study that has done in Plastic surgery ward. Of the 10 patients, six were women and four were men, their median age was 61 years (range 50-79 years). Mean follow-up of patients were 15 months and there was no recurrence during this time. We reconstructed forehead after excision of tumours in the same operation. Results: Aesthetic results of H-flap in all cases were great with patient satisfaction according to questionnaire sheets. Conclusion: This local flap is a reliable and safe way for upper forehead defects up to 6 cm lengths. Long-term follow up showed inconspicuous scars and good texture and colour match of the reconstructed forehead. We recommend this flap for upper forehead reconstruction in defects between 4 cm and 6 cm. Directions of incisions are parallel to resting skin tension line and length to width of flap considered 2:1 with excision of burrow triangle from both side. We used silicon sheet post operatively for 3 months for better aesthetic results.

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The carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) laser is a versatile tool that has applications in ablative lasing and caters to the needs of routine dermatological practice as well as the esthetic, cosmetic, and rejuvenation segments. We report a case of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with cosmetically disfiguring confluent papules over the scalp, forehead, nasolabial folds, chin, and retroauricular region. We used CO ₂ laser in superpulse mode for ablating the lesions in three sittings. The lesions regressed completely and no recurrence was observed over a regular follow-up of 8 months.

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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ is an uncommon tumour of the nail unit. Mohs micrographic surgery or wide surgical excision are often the preferred treatments. As an alternative therapy two patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 associated SCC in situ were treated by curettage-cryosurgery. After a careful curettage with different-sized curettes freezing with liquid nitrogen in a double freeze-thaw was performed. Both patients were treated successfully and healed completely within 3 months. No adverse events were observed during a follow-up of at least 5 years and no recurrences were noted. Curettage-cryosurgery might be a safe and non-resource-demanding alternative treatment for patients with subungual SCC in situ.

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