Skin protection creams in medical settings: successful or evil?

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Recent advances in toxicological testing of the stratum corneum.

alpha-Hydroxy acid (AHA) formulations are commonly used for skin chemical peelings. The primary target is the stratum corneum (SC). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of various glycolic acid concentrations and commercial phenolic acid formulations on the SC. Quantitative colorimetry of a corneoxenometry bioassay was used. The test procedure involved glycolic acid concentrations ranging from 3% to 70% in alcoholic solution. Exposure times were set for 1 min and 3 min. The bioassay showed consistent reactivity with a dose-effect relationship when using the selected low exposure times. In a similar procedure the aggressiveness of commercially available phenolic acid formulations was identified not using hazardous in vivo testing. Corneoxenometry appears useful for in vitro testing of AHA peeling agents during short exposure times

The skin landscape following nonoptical capacitance imaging.

Skin capacitance is an electrical property measurable at the level of the stratum corneum. Values are related to the moisture content of the tissue. Using the silicon image sensor technology, it has recently become possible to measure capacitance at 50 microm intervals on the skin surface. The resulting nonoptical picture corresponds to skin capacitance imaging. This novel tool for dermatologists highlights with precision the hollow skin surface patterns, including dermatoglyphics, the patterns of the shallow skin lines, and wrinkles. The topographic heterogeneity in skin surface hydration is made visible. In addition, the sweat gland and follicular openings are disclosed. Skin disorders induced by surfactants or presenting as hyperkeratotic areas, including some neoplasms, may show typical aspects. It is concluded that skin capacitance imaging brings added value to the clinical assessment performed by dermatologists

Sweaty skin, background and assessments.

Overproduction of sweat, sweaty skin, and body malodors are felt unpleasant by many people in diverse social groups. This review summarizes the functional aspects of the eccrine, apocrine, and apoeccrine sweat glands as encountered in health and disease. A series of measuring methods are conveniently used to explore any trouble in sweat production. These include the gravimetric method, water evaporation quantification, skin staining procedures, dye injections, casting replicas, average electrometric assessments, and skin capacitance mapping / imaging (SCM). Qualitative assessment is provided by collection of sweat and volatile compounds followed by chromatographic analysis. At present, SCM appears to be the most valuable method for assessing the number of active glands and their individual sweat production by the eccrine and apoeccrine glands

Facing up to the imperceptible perspiration. Modulatory influences by diabetic neuropathy, physical exercise and antiperspirant.

Background: Sweating is variably altered by physical exercise, diabetic neuropathy and antiperspirants. Methods: Skin temperature, skin surface water loss (SSWL), the Corneometer((R)) average capacitance (CMAC) and skin capacitance mapping (SCM) were measured before and after moderate physical exercise in 20 healthy subjects. The effect of 5% aluminium chloride hexahydrate (ACH) in a water solution was similarly tested. The same assessments were performed in 20 diabetic patients at rest. Results: Diabetic neuropathy appeared at rest as an increased (compensatory) SCM on the forearms without obvious modification on the hypohidrotic legs. On ACH sites after exercise, SCM revealed both a lowered number of active sweat glands and a lighter stratum corneum (SC) (dryness). In addition, CMAC and SSWL were decreased on ACH sites at rest and at completion of exercise. Conclusion: In diabetic neuropathy, the compensatory hyperhidrosis is more easily disclosed than the hypohidrosis. ACH affects both sweat excretion and the SC hydration

L'agonie du taratata auprès du clinicien.

peer reviewedLe clinicien est à la croisée des chemins entre la rigueur scientifique et le taratata d’une certaine communication bien moins sérieuse. Dans ce contexte, la recherche de l’objectivité est primordiale dans les études cliniques. Nous résumons les aspects principaux des méthodes de dénombrement, de classement, de mesures paramétriques et d’évaluations sur échelles structurée ou non structurée

Eye and Ultraviolet Light

peer reviewedAll the ocular structures, from cornea to retinal layer, can be damaged by exposure to the light radiations. Acute keratitis combined with conjunctivitis will result from an intensive photic exposure. On the other hand, pterygion more likely represents the consequence of chronic exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Exposure to the ultraviolet rays has been involved in the appearance of the typical yellow pigments of the nuclear cataract. Indeed, the physiopathological mechanisms are now progressively better understood. The progression of retinal degenerations might be influenced by uncontrolled exposure to ultraviolet rays, particularly during childhood. It is therefore useful to protect the eyes against ultraviolet sunrays. Filtering glasses seem to be one of the most effective ways to reach that objective