Study of Dermatoglyphics in Dermatoses.

Dermatoglyphic patterns and total ridge count were sutdied in 100 random selected Indian Army Personnel of mixed Indian population. They include 25 males each of controls, psoriasis, alopecia areata and vitiligo. Increase in the loops and decrease in whorls were significant in psoriasis. In alopecia areata there was significant increase in whorls and decrease in arch patterns. Radial loops and arches were completely absent on right hands.In vitiligo there were maximum ulnar loopover third and fifth digits of each hand and radial loops were completely absent over digits of left hand. No significant change was observed in total ridge count in these three dermatoses.