The gate control theory was proposed by Melzack & Wall in 1965. This theory implies that selective stimulation of cutaneous afferent fibers of large diameter inhibits pain. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation(TNS) is a practical employment of this concept. TNS was used on 14 herpes zoster patients to relieve associated pain. Good effeet was obtained in 13 patients. They experienced relief of their pain for 1-4 hours after 20 minutes of application. TNS has many advantages over analgesic drugs in the control of pain in herpes zoster.
Analgesics ; Employment ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) is an uncommon condition of the skin with small white macular or atrophic plaques which predominantly affects the genital regions of middle aged and elderly women. We present an atypical case of LSA on a 58 year old woman. The patient had a brownish-black colored patch of 2.5 * 7.0 cm in size on the right clavicular area of one year's duration. The histopatholgy of the lesion disclosed classical findings of LSA. A marked incontinence of pigment is noted in the upper dermis which accounts for the clinical picture of the lesion. She was treated with topical hydrocortisone cream resulting in a marked diminution of pigmentation.
Aged ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus* ; Lichens* ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation ; Skin