Editorial

Dear friends/readers

Warm greetings!!

At the outset let, me congratulate all on this momentous occasion of the inaugural ceremony of the prestigious Dermazone (North) being hosted by Delhi State Branch (DSB) in Delhi. DSB is mighty in terms of its membership strength which stands tall at its current strength of a lofty over >600 life members. It enjoys special status of being one of the oldest branches of IADVL, which was envisioned and established by the legendary figures like Dr. P.N. Behl and Dr. K.C Kandhari, who are credited with successful carving of dermatology as a stand alone, independent, separate specialty. It has to its credit hosting of the first ever Dermazone, the international conference of dermatology and many spectacular events in the past. Many esteemed members of DSB have adorned the hat of national president, and many have enjoyed other key office positions in the national executive of the IADVL. DSB has always been acknowledged and applauded for its active and constructive role in consolidating the Indian Association of Dermatology. Notwithstanding administrative positions, The Delhi state branch has always remained at the forefront of a plethora of academic and literary activities which include organization of state of the art workshops, seminars, and conferences of national and international acclaim from time to time. The first ever department of dermatology was established in 1960 at A.I.I.M.S., Delhi. DSB holds long association spanning over 40 years with the teaching, training, and nurturing of the tender specialty of dermatology that began in the 1960s and continues even more passionately till date. Kudos to the hard work, literary genius and the scientific vision of all our respected seniors whose endeavours have placed DSB on a firm footage as a leading force.Last decade has witnessed an overflow of novel therapeutic agents, spectacular molecular research, an upsurge of infective dermatoses and the emergence of new pathogens (covid, monkey pox, resistant dermatophytes, and new species, e.g., Trichophyton indotineae), drug resistance in leprosy and tuberculosis (TB), systemic ramifications of cutaneous diseases, technologically advanced lasers, and the big-time entry of regenerative therapy in dermatology. Dermatosurgery and interventional dermatology have evolved at a lightning speed in Delhi. The sheer number of research publications, review articles, and case reports submitted and published by members of DSB in various national and international journals is a sound testimony of their creative prowess, insatiable appetite for regular updates, and academic excellence.We are proud that distinguished members of DSB have remained at the helms of affairs of the national journal of the IADVL along with young, enthusiastic members who have diligently and cohesively worked for the journal to achieve a high impact factor. DSB also holds the unique and proud distinction of having given many noteworthy editors and editorial team members for other national journals in dermatosurgery, leprosy, and sexually transmitted infections. I would be failing in duty if, at this juncture, I don’t highlight many other outstanding literary works of DSB members as editors of text books on diverse themes. Members of DSB have encapsulated their rich experience and wisdom into lectures, podcasts, atlas, and monograms on diverse themes. In nutshell, DSB has been a forerunner in both the literary and research arenas exhibiting its fervor for literary pursuits. Several scientific and research contributions with a high citation index by members of DSB have adorned various national and international journals.Delhi enjoys a special status and is often referred to as a “melting pot” of diverse cultures and religions. The demographic profile comprises both young and the elderly. Delhi is endowed with heritage structures, modern buildings, overcrowded residential areas, and urban slums interspersed with a patchy throw of industrial units with a rim of agricultural land at its territorial borders. It represents an amalgamation of diverse ethnicities, religions, and cultural practices, leading to a marriage of sorts between modern and the traditional orthodox lifestyle. The bustling capital city boasts of high density of population, who witnesses frequent weather changes notable for hot summers to humid rainy seasons which transition to extreme winters within a few months. People of Delhi exhibit varied skin types ranging between type 11 and type IV skin. The unique socio-demographic and cultural canvas of Delhi accounts for the varied gamut of dermatological diseases encountered here. The urbanized lifestyle and other environmental factors prevalent in the city are instrumental in the recent steep rise in dermatoses like psoriasis, acne, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, recalcitrant dermatophytosis, contact leucoderma, metabolic skin changes, and melanosis. Chronic infections like the mycobacterial diseases (leprosy and cutaneous TB), HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhoea, along with drug reactions, mosquito-borne endemic febrile illnesses are the newly emerged class of diseases due to climate change and the immunocompromised host. An ever-increasing demand for dermatosurgical and aesthetic procedures has further added to the novel conundrum of iatrogenic dermatoses. Delhi offers great opportunities for learning, conducting research, and publishing given its rich geographical, demographic, and cultural landscape.I am overjoyed to share that the idea of having an in-house dermatology journal from DSB was mooted in the executive body meeting of DSB team. The proposal was passed unanimously thus paving the way for the “Journal of Comprehensive Dermatology” as the first ever, pioneer journal of DSB. It is proposed to be an all-inclusive journal as the official organ of DSB. The journal will encompass a composite array of informative and relevant articles providing practical information on topics pertaining to different subspecialties of dermatology. DSB aims to crystallize the rich knowledge, academic, and research experiences in dermatology of its members and IADVL members by launching its own compendium as JCD. It will serve as a useful resource of articles on path breaking research, state of the art developments, and novel clinical experiences in dermatology and its offshoots. The journal promises to have a local flavor and intends to capture different angles of the regional dermatoses, recent discoveries, and emergent challenges in dermatology.

On behalf of the entire editorial team and the executive team, Delhi State Branch (DSB), it is my proud privilege to announce the launch of the debut issue of the “Journal of Comprehensive Dermatology” (JCD). The journal will be published as a peer-reviewed, quarterly work under the aegis of Delhi State Branch (IADVL). This literary venture is set to become a historic moment for Delhi as the journal shall firmly establish academic skillfulness and scientific temperament of the branch. It is rather late in the day, but better late than never, as the saying goes. JCD proposes to compile peer-reviewed, high-quality submissions on a wide spectrum of hot topics in dermatology. The journal will encompass a variety of research contributions including case reports, photo quizzes, review articles, and original studies, to provide ample opportunities to the young budding scholars, research enthusiasts, and the experienced academicians alike to share their work on this pedestal. True to its title, the length and breadth of the journal of comprehensive dermatology will be broad and shall feature articles pertaining to diverse sections/subspecialties of dermatology. It will be all inclusive in nature and shall present a panoramic view of key developments in core dermatology, dermatological surgery, sexually transmitted infections, and leprology. The long-term goal of JCD is to impart applied aspects of research data to equip the reader with opinion-building information that can be successfully translated into practice. The journal promises to offer useful articles, tips, and tricks for a composite readership including practitioners, trainees and academia. With the journal, Delhi branch embarks on its literary journey to capture meaningful ongoing developments and innovations in dermatology.

Publish or perish is a golden saying and JCD will prove an asset for all the budding dermatologist to gain relevant podiums for disseminating their print-worthy research which will help them gain recognition. Writing research papers/scientific publications is a mandatory requirement for postgraduates and for those seeking careers in teaching and research as outlined by the National Medical Commission. JCD aims at keeping its members abreast of the latest discoveries in regional and international research. I have often wondered about the sad reality of the high rejection rate of many print-worthy drafts by the journals with a high impact factor on the pretext of their overburdened inbox. JCD shall embrace contributions which convey a pertinent message and add to the existing knowledge of a locally relevant topic. It shall also serve as a readily available platform for debutantes in research to highlight their research work. The journal will be an open access, peer-reviewed publication on a quarterly basis by Medknow publishers and will be initially available as online work.

DSB is the proud host of Dermazone (North) and this mega occasion also marks the formal announcement of JCD, making this day, September 5th, even more memorable and historic. Dr. Gulhima as president and Dr. Himanshu as the secretary of DSB deserve special mention for their thoughtfulness and the brilliant idea of launching this pioneer project of DSB. Dr. Sandeep Arora has been instrumental in conceptualizing the format and the logistic details. I am convinced that with the active support and participation of the members of DSB, JCD will achieve further literary heights in the future and get established as an authentic work of high quality and rank.

So dear members, let the year 2024 be the year of achieving yet another milestone by DSB!

JCD announces attainment of literary scholarship by DSB. Stay ready with your research. We look forward to meaningful, noteworthy, and informative contributions in all walks of dermatology.

Stay tuned…

Bon Reading!!

Dr. Vibhu Mendiratta

Editor, Journal of Comprehensive DermatologyDirector Professor and Head. Lady Hardinge Medical College. New Delhi.