From beauty therapies like botox or chemical peels to treatment management of vitiligo, the experts discussed it all at the seminar

The current decade is the era of minimal invasive facial rejuvenation and myriad procedures like chemical peels, botox, lasers and hair restoration surgery are available now. Chemical peeling has stood the test of time for regenerating the sun-damaged and wrinkled skin and now dermatologists are also excited with the use of lasers and energy based devices to treat pimples and acne.

So it was from a conservative topical therapy orientation to an exquisite hands on intervention, key developments in cutaneous surgery, aesthetic dermatology, radio, cryo and chemosurgery including laser medicine that was discussed by a host of experts at the national workshop on dermatology. The workshop was organised by the Department of Dermatology, Command hospital and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC).

There has also been shift in the medical management of vitiligo. Lt Col Manas Chatterjee, assistant professor at Department of Dermatology, Command hospital said that vitiligo is one condition that is associated with psychological complications due to its cosmetic disfigurement. However now large patches of the vitiligo areas can be covered with skin grafts while miniature punch grafting is the best method for the tips of fingers and toes, palms and soles, he said.

The Command Hospital's dermatology department is not just one of the centers for institutional treatment for leprosy cases in the armed forces personnel but a 30-bed immunodeficiency centre and also has a dermatology ICU - the first of its kind in the armed forces.

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