Notes: The topically applied cosmetic products can be helpful in improving the aged skin condition. The present study shows how oral fish-cartilage food supplementation can be helpful in improving the treatment of ageing skin. A total of 30 healthy women with signs of skin ageing were studied. Fifteen of the women were treated with a food supplement based on polysaccharides derived from the fish cartilage and a natural mix of antioxidants for 2 months and the other 15 with a placebo. Clinical evaluation and biophysical parameters related to skin function and wrinkle severity, such as silicone replica, skin thickness, mechanical properties, skin colour and capacitance, were measured. The results showed statistically significant changes in the active-treated group in comparison to the placebo. In particular, dermal thickness (treatment: from 1.13 to 1.23 mm; P 〈 0.001), skin wrinkling (treatment: from 9.5 to 3.5 Ra; P〈 0.002), skin colour (treatment: brighter and less pigmented; P 〈 0.02) and viscoelasticity (treatment: from 0.70 to 0.97%; P 〈 0.02) showed considerable improvement. Most of these parameters are related to changes occurring within the dermal matrix, which is improved after the treatment, whereas most of the topically applied cosmetic products have a short-term effect on superficial structures. A combination treatment (oral and topical) can be more effective in reducing the signs of skin-ageing.

Notes: Objectives:  The strip patch test (SPT), proposed by Spier and Sixt (Hautarzt 1955;6:152–9), is a modification of the patch test (PT). This technique is used to enhance penetration through the stratum corneum for poorly penetrating substances such as medicaments. So far, a standardised procedure is lacking. This multicentre study aims at standardising the SPT procedure.Methods:  A total of 83 healthy volunteers participated. In each subject, we determined the number of strips (A) until the surface became glistening and then calculated the median number of strips in the sample (Ā = 26). We ascertained the median number of strips in the sample (ā = 11) that was necessary to achieve a first statistically significant and medically relevant increase of the TEWL revealing a critical stratum corneum strip depth. For the finally calculated number of strips for each subject (a/A = (ā/Ā)⇔a = A × (ā/Ā)), the actual increase in test sensitivity was substantiated employing SLS 0.125% aqueous.Standardisation results:  Perform stripping at one upper part of the back until the surface becomes glistening: gently press a 25 mm diameter adhesive tape downward vertically for about 2 seconds and then remove it in one quick movement at the angle in direction of adherence; continue stripping with a new tape cut on exactly the same skin area. Multiply number of strips by the correction factor (cf = ā/Ā = 11/26 = 0.4). Perform calculated number of strips likewise on the contralateral site and then apply there the test preparation for 24 hours.Conclusions:  If clinically an allergic contact dermatitis is expected but PT is negative, the SPT might reveal the potential allergen.

Notes: Background/purpose: Sensitive skin has been described as a skin type with higher reactivity than normal skin and exaggerated reactions to external irritants. Washing with soaps is harmful for barrier-related parameters. Cutaneous irritation induced by cleansing products under exaggerated test conditions, e.g. patch testing, is not necessarily predictive of the irritation occurring under standardized daily use conditions. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of an improved washing solution for sensitive skin in a half-site comparison on barrier-related parameters.Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers with self-reported sensitive and so-called problematic skin performed standardized washings with a soap-free washing emulsion with mild acidity (pH 5.5) for 3 weeks. Test areas were both forearms and the cheek. Non-invasive biophysical measurements of the following skin parameters, epidermal permeability barrier function measured as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration, pH value, skin surface lipids, skin temperature and SC integrity/cohesion, were assessed prior to the first washing, on days 7, 14 and 21 after beginning the washing procedure. SC cohesion was quantified using two independent methods on D-Squame tapes: optical spectroscopy measuring the absorbance and a protein assay assessing the total protein (Bradford). Both methods showed a good correlation. SC integrity was quantified by measuring TEWL after sequential stripping with D-Squame tapes.Results: The use of the washing emulsion led to a mild damage of the epidermal permeability barrier function with no marked difference to water application. Furthermore, a mild but significant dehydration was assessed after 21 days vs. baseline without any differences between the water-treated and the washing emulsion-treated forearm. On the cheek no dehydration was detectable but the lipid content was reduced under the washing emulsion. The pH value increased in all three test areas after 21 days, again without significant differences between water and the washing solution. SC cohesion was quantified using two independent methods on D-Squame tapes: optical spectroscopy measuring the absorbance and a protein assay assessing the total protein (Bradford). Both methods showed a good correlation. The SC cohesion decreased after 21 days on the water-treated as well as on the washing emulsion-treated arm. The decrease over time was significant when used the optical spectroscopy measuring. A standardized questionnaire revealed positive characteristics of the washing emulsion and good acceptance.Conclusion: The investigated standardized washing model with the endpoints epidermal barrier function, SC hydration, surface pH, skin surface lipids, skin temperature and SC integrity/cohesion showed only mild damage comparable to washing with water.

Notes: In dermatology and cosmetics, moisturizers are used to soften skin. The objectives of this study were to compare the influence of three different moisturizers on skin hydration and skin mechanics by various non-invasive test methods and to determine the relationship between the methods used.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods:In 27 test subjects, four test areas in each were treated over 3 days, three times a day. An oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion was applied without moisturizer, the same with 10% glycerol, with 10% urea, or with 10% propylene glycol, respectively. Three hours after the last treatment results were measured by using the following instruments: Corneometer CM 820, Skicon 200, Frictionmeter, and Cutometer.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Results/Conclusions:In all procedures a significant effect, in the sense of an increase in the data recorded, could be demonstrated by glycerol-treatment. During Corneometer, Frictionmeter, and Cutometer measurements, an additional unidirectional effect caused by the basic emulsion was seen. With all test methods, the influence of urea and propylene glycol was not significant compared to the basic emulsion. For all pretreatments there was a correlation between Corneometer data and Skicon data. Because of the low correlation coefficients between hydration parameters and mechanical parameters, it is to be assumed that other effects of glycerol- and basic-emulsion-treatment-independent from the hydration effect – have an additional influence on the data obtained by using the Frictionmeter and the Cutometer. This indicates that the clinical effect of emulsions should not be evaluated exclusively on the basis of electrical measurements of hydration.

Notes: Background Propionibacterium acnes is the target of antimicrobial treatments for acne vulgaris. Acquired resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracyclines has been reported in strains from diverse geographical loci, but the molecular basis of resistance, via mutations in genes encoding 23S and 16S rRNA, respectively, has so far only been elucidated for isolates from the U.K. Objectives To determine whether similar or different resistance mechanisms occur in resistant P. acnes isolates from outside the U.K. Methods The phenotypes and genotypes of 73 antibiotic-resistant strains of P. acnes obtained from the skin of acne patients in the U.K., U.S.A., France, Germany, Australia and Japan were compared. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) measurements, and polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to identify mutations in genes encoding rRNA. Results Most erythromycin-resistant isolates (MIC90≥ 512 μg mL−1) were cross-resistant to clindamycin but at a much lower level (MIC90≥ 64 μg mL−1). As in the U.K., resistance to erythromycin was associated with point mutations in 23S rRNA in 49 of 58 strains. An A→G transition at Escherichia coli equivalent base 2058 was present in 24 strains. This gave a unique cross-resistance phenotype against a panel of macrolide, lincosamide and type B streptogramin antibiotics. Two further point mutations (at E. coli equivalent bases 2057 and 2059) were identified (in three and 22 isolates, respectively) and these were also associated with specific cross-resistance patterns originally identified in isolates from the U.K. However, nine of 10 erythromycin resistant-strains from Germany did not exhibit any of the three base mutations identified and, in six cases, cross-resistance patterns were atypical. Consistent with previous U.K. data, 34 of 38 tetracycline-resistant strains carried a base mutation at E. coli 16S rRNA equivalent base 1058. Tetracycline-resistant isolates displayed varying degrees of cross-resistance to doxycycline and minocycline, but isolates from the U.S.A. had higher MICs for minocycline (4–16 μg mL−1) than isolates from other countries and, in particular, Australia. All the P. acnes isolates resistant to one or more of the commonly used antiacne antibiotics were sensitive to penicillin, fusidic acid, chloramphenicol and the fluoroquinolone, nadifloxacin. All but one isolate (from the U.K.) were sensitive to trimethoprim. Conclusions This study shows that 23S and 16S mutations identified in the U.K. conferring antibiotic resistance in P. acnes are distributed widely. However, resistant strains were isolated in which mutations could not be identified, suggesting that as yet uncharacterized resistance mechanisms have evolved. This is the first report of high-level resistance to minocycline and is of concern as these strains are predicted to be clinically resistant and are unlikely to remain confined to the U.S.A. Epidemiological studies are urgently required to monitor how resistant strains are selected, how they spread and to ascertain whether the prevalence of resistance correlates with antibiotic usage patterns in the different countries.