The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic continues to spread and evolve on a worldwide basis. Currently more than five million patients in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS. Cutaneous and mucosal complications eventually occur in nearly all individuals with HIV infection, and can be debilitating, disfiguring, and life-threatening. Their incidence increases with deteriorating immune function. Familiarity with cutaneous disease patterns in this population enables early diagnosis and institution of correct treatment, detection of unrecognised HIV infection or progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and, counselling and prevention of further transmission. Knowledge of the skin and mucosal signs of HIV/AIDS is important.

Perniosis (chilblains) is an abnormal reaction to cold that occurs most frequently in women, children, and the elderly. Chilblains may be idiopathic and self-limited, or associated with systemic diseases. This article discusses the approach to the diagnosis and treatment perniosis and explains the concepts of acrocyanosis and erythrocyanosis.

The term “dermatitis” (synonym: eczema) refers to a non-infectious, inflammatory disorder of the skin. There are different forms of dermatitis including seborrhoeic dermatitis (infantile and adult types), primary irritant dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, dermatitis associated with venous hypertension, dyshidrotic dermatitis (synonym: idiopathic vesicular dermatitis of the hands and feet), photoallergic dermatitis, HIV-associated dermatitis, nummular dermatitis and atopic dermatitis (AD). Atopic dermatitis is common and is the only form of dermatitis that may affect virtually the entire lifespan of an individual.

This article presents a clinical approach to patchy, non-scarring hair loss and includes conditions like alopecia areata, trichotillomania, dermatophyte infection of the scalp, syphilitic alopecia and traction folliculitis.