Research Reporting Public Perception and Behavior with Regard to Skin Health: Results of a Survey from the Skin Health Expo in Korea / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Healthy skin is an important determinant of the quality of life and physical and mental well-being. The demand for dermatological information is increasing not only in patients with skin diseases, but also in the general population with normal/healthy skin. However, public perception and behavior with regard to skin health among Koreans are not known. OBJECTIVE: To examine public perception and behaviors with regard to skin health in Koreans visiting the Skin Health Expo 2017. METHODS: A total of 597 participants completed a questionnaire that assessed demographics, status, and behavior for skin health and Expo satisfaction. RESULTS: Respondents with higher stress levels and a history of skin diseases showed lower satisfaction with self-skin health. Most participants considered adequate sleep and water intake to be important factors associated with healthy skin. One-on-one consultation with dermatologists was the most satisfactory among participants at the Expo. CONCLUSION: Educational tools using mass media and informative activities such as the Expo planned by dermatologists and the government are necessary to spread awareness and provide proper information to improve skin health in the general population and to emphasize the key role of dermatologists in skin disorders with a social burden.

A standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem prevents reduction in heat shock protein 70 expression in ultraviolet-B-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND@#Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) exhibits protective effects against ultraviolet (UV)-induced premature skin aging. A standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem (EAS) is produced as a novel and unique functional food that induces HSP70 cellular expression. To elucidate the anti-photoaging potencies of EAS, we examined its effects on HSP70 expression levels in UV-B-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs).@*METHODS@#NHDFs were treated with 1 mg/mL of EAS or dextrin (vehicle control) prior to UV-B irradiation (20 mJ/cm). After culturing NHDFs for different time periods, HSP70 mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.@*RESULTS@#UV-B-irradiated NHDFs showed reduced HSP70 mRNA levels after 1-6 h of culture, which were recovered after 24 h of culture. Treatment with EAS alone for 24 h increased HSP70 mRNA levels in the NHDFs, but the increase was not reflected in its protein levels. On the other hand, pretreatment with EAS abolished the UV-B irradiation-induced reduction in HSP70 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest that EAS is capable to preserve HSP70 quantity in UV-B-irradiated NHDFs.@*CONCLUSIONS@#EAS exhibits anti-photoaging potencies by preventing the reduction in HSP70 expression in UV-irradiated dermal fibroblasts.

Perceived Relevance of Educative Information on Public (Skin) Health: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Survey / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Unprotected leisure time exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial tanning beds is the most important environmental risk factor for melanoma, a malignant skin cancer with increasing incidences over the past decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of skin health information provided by several sources and different publishing issues on knowledge, risk perception, and sun protective behavior of sunbathers. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Austrian residents (n=563) spending leisure time outdoors in August 2010. RESULTS: Print media, television, and family were perceived as the most relevant sources of information on skin health, whereas the source physician was only ranked as fourth important source. Compared to other sources, information provided by doctors positively influenced participants' knowledge on skin risk and sun protective behavior resulting in higher scores in the knowledge test (p=0.009), higher risk perception (p<0.001), and more sun protection (p<0.001). Regarding gender differences, internet was more often used by males as health information source, whereas females were more familiar with printed information material in general. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey put emphasis on the demand for information provided by medical professionals in order to attain effective, long-lasting promotion of photoprotective habits.

Sunburn (fohia) Healing Effects of Noni: Is it a Mechanism Involving Its Inhibitory Effects on MMP, COX-2 and Cat-G Enzymes.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate whether extracts and preparations of noni fruit and leaf, a Polynesian traditional herbal medicine, inhibit MMP, COX-2 and Cat-G enzymes in vitro, as its mechanism of action for healing sun-burn known as fohia in Tonga. Noni leaf ethanolic extract (NLEE) inhibited MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9 enzymes concentration dependently with 0.517, 0.234, 0.184, and 0.302 mg/mL IC50, respectively. Noni fruit juice concentrates (NFJC) in 1 and 5 mg/mL concentrations, inhibited MMP-12 enzymes by 102, and 99%, respectively. NFJC and NLEE inhibited Cat-G enzymes concentration-dependently with 0.125, <0.1, and 0.41 mg/mL IC50, respectively. Noni fruit juice fractions 4 and 6 inhibited COX-2 and Cat-G enzymes by 85 and 89%, and 89 and 78%, respectively. Additionally, the noni fruit puree and noni leaf has 1.91 mg/g and 5.77 mg/g of ursolic acid, respectively. NFJC, and NLEE inhibitory effects on MMP, COX-2 and Cat-G enzymes might help explain the traditional usage of the noni fruits and leaves for treatment of fohia skin as alluded to by Polynesian traditional healers. These results warrant further studies into the skin health benefits of noni fruit and leaf to further assess their efficacies and dosages in human subjects suffering from photoaging.

The Recognition of Skin Health and Diseases in the Geriatric Population / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: With the development of medical science and technology, the proportion of the aged in the population has significantly increased. For the same reasons, concerns regarding skin aging and skin diseases in the geriatric population has increased. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recognition of skin health and disease in the elderly. METHODS: On April 2009, 190 elderly persons were asked to complete a questionnaire in 5 senior welfare centers in the city of in Korea. The questions included: satisfaction with the subject's own skin; treatment-seeking behavior; knowledge and common sense about representative skin problems; efforts taken to achieve healthy skin. RESULTS: Among the elderly, 44.74% were dissatisfied with their own skin. The most complained about skin diseases in the elderly were pruritus and xerosis. Also, interest in esthetic problems such as wrinkles and pigmentation was high. On the question of whether they visit a dermatologic clinic when they develop skin problems, 40.53% of subjects said that they visited the dermatologic clinic. However, this means that 59.47% did not visit a dermatologic clinic. A somewhat unexpected finding was that knowledge of skin diseases and esthetic problems were plentiful in the geriatric population. Among the elderly, 81.05% did something to achieve skin health such as using a moisturizer or sunscreen. CONCLUSION: The present study contributes to our understanding of the recognition of dermatologic problems in the geriatric populations. Dermatologists and society should pay more attention to the provision of correct information and appropriate treatments for skin diseases in the elderly.

Diapers and Infant Skin Health / 아동간호학회지

Diaper dermatitis, or commonly called "diaper rash", is among the most prevalent cutaneous disorders of infancy and early childhood and important issue in nursing. The term itself is not diagnostic since it encompasses a variety of acute inflammatory reactions which are best regarded as a family of disorders arising from a combination of factors specifically attributable to the use of diapers. Intensive study of the rash process has shown that skin wetness and fecal enzyme activity are damaging to skin and lead to the development of diaper rash. This suggests that it is important to keep urine away from babies' skin, so that the skin remains as dry as possible and maintains its barrier function abilities. Controlling the urine will also minimize the mixing of urine and feces within the diaper, which helps prevent the increased activity of enzymes that attack the skin and cause irritation. Therefore, a diaper that keeps the skin drier and limits the mixing of urine and feces will help prevent the conditions that lead to diaper rash. Since their introduction about 35 years ago, disposable baby diapers have undergone many design and performance changes. In particular, the performance of diapers was advanced by the introduction of absorbent gel materials(AGMs) to provide advantages in skin care, dryness, and leakage protection. Especially, important was the introduction of AGM which increased the absorbent capacity of the diaper several fold and yielded marked reductions in the degree of skin hydration occurring under the diaper. Studies show not only drier skin but more stable skin pH and less dermatitis with AGM diapers than with home-laundered cloth diapers or single-use diapers without AGM. Minimizing diaper area skin wetness is important for managing and preventing diaper rash. To minimize wetness, parents should use super absorbent diapers, change them frequently, and gently clean the perineal area with each diaper change. In addition to the skin care benefits, disposable diapers are also better than cloth diapers in minimizing the risk of diarrhea outbreaks among infants and toddlers in day-care environments by reducing fecal contamination and minimizing the potential for transmission of gastro-intestinal tract disease in day-care settings. Furthermore, disposable diapers in the hospital provide nursing, health care, and other advantages over cloth diapers: convenience for nurses and parents, and better containment than cloth with less handling, decreasing the chance of spreading infections. These benefits extend from the care of infants in hospitals to children at home or in day care centers.