Profile of depigmenting cosmetics and dermatological products on the market

The skin is the largest and most exposed organ of the human body, therefore subject to diseases and alteration of its appearance. Among these alterations, the cutaneous hyperchromia may be cited. Currently, the market offers numerous products with depigmenting action to the treatment of such disorders. The aim of this work was to analyze depigmenting products commercialized in establishments in the city of Bento Gonçalves (RS, Brazil) and websites of cosmetic companies. It was found 45 products with depigmenting action and, from these, 59 different active agents were identified. The main active compounds found were kojic acid, arbutin, ascorbic acid, hydroquinone and glycolic acid. Another observed data was that in 78% of the studied products the active substances were being used in combination. The most used vehicles were also studied as a reference to the use of sunscreen in the treatment of cutaneous hyperchromia. The present work had identified in the market a variety of products with depigmentation action and, because of this, it aims to serve as a reference to the healthcare professionals, especially at the prescribing moment, looking for the best results, with regards to treatment efficiency and safety.(AU)

Dois casos de hiperpigmentação cutânea induzido pela polimixina B / Two cases of skin hyperpigmentation induced by polymyxin B

INTRODUÇÃO: O processo de hiperpigmentação cutânea envolve mecanismos bioquímicos e imunológicos que estimulam a melanogênese e apesar da nefrotoxicidade consistir na reação adversa mais relevante da polimixina B, o antimicrobiano também está associado a esta alteração. RELATO DE CASO: Caso 1: paciente masculino diagnosticado com Linfoma de Hodgkin, que desenvolveu hiperpigmentação cutânea após iniciar tratamento com meropenem, anidulafungina e polimixina B devido a um quadro de choque séptico. Caso 2: paciente masculino admitido na UTI por rebaixamento do nível de consciência e suspeita de IAMCSST, diagnosticado com endocardite e pericardite, que também apresentou hiperpigmentação cutânea durante terapia com anfotericina B e polimixina B. CONCLUSÃO: Após criteriosa avaliação da ordem cronológica e medicamentos utilizados pelos pacientes, concluímos que a polimixina B desencadeou a hiperpigmentação em ambos. Por fim, baseado ao mecanismo desta reação e aos achados científicos, estudos clínicos que possam evidenciar um provável efeito farmacológico com o uso de antagonistas H2 são necessários.

INTRODUCTION: The skin hyperpigmentation process involves biochemical and immunological mechanisms that stimulate melanogenesis and although nephrotoxicity consists of the most relevant adverse reaction of polymyxin B, it is also associated with this changes. CASE REPORT: Case 1: male patient, diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, who developed skin hyperpigmentation after starting treatment with meropenem, anidulafungin and polymyxin B due to a septic shock. Case 2: male patient, admitted to the ICU for decreased level of consciousness and suspected STEMI, diagnosed with endocarditis and pericarditis, who also presented skin hyperpigmentation during therapy with amphotericin B and polymyxin B. CONCLUSION: After careful evaluation of chronological order and drugs used by patients, we conclude that polymyxin B caused hyperpigmentation in both patients. Finally, based on the mechanism of this reaction and the scientific findings, clinical studies that may evidence a probable pharmacological effect with the use of H2 antagonists are required.

Effect of urea-extracted sericin on melanogenesis: potential applications in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

BACKGROUND: Hyperpigmentation disorders such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation are major concerns not only in light-skinned people but also in Asian populations with darker skin. The anti-tyrosinase and immunomodulatory effects of sericin have been known for decades. However, the therapeutic effects of sericin on hyperpigmentation disorders have not been well documented. METHODS: In this study, we used an in vitro model to study the anti-tyrosinase, tolerogenic, and anti-melanogenic effects of sericin on Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PEG)-stimulated melanocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), and artificial skin (MelanoDerm™). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, conventional and immunolabeled electron microscopy, and histopathological studies were performed. RESULTS: The results revealed that urea-extracted sericin has strong anti-tyrosinase properties as shown by a reduction of tyrosinase activity in melanin pigments both 48 h and 10 days after allergic induction with PEG. Anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-p were upregulated upon sericin treatment (10, 20, and 50 µg/mL), whereas production of allergic chemokines, CCL8 and CCL18, by DCs was diminished 48 h after allergic induction with PEG. Moreover, sericin lowered the expression of micropthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a marker of melanogenesis regulation, in melanocytes and keratinocytes, which contributed to the reduction of melanin size and the magnitude of melanin deposition. However, sericin had no effect on melanin transport between melanocytes and keratinocytes, as demonstrated by a high retention of cytoskeletal components. CONCLUSION: In summary, sericin suppresses melanogenesis by inhibition of tyrosinase activity, reduction of inflammation and allergy, and modulation of MITF function.

Hyperpigmentation as a peculiar presentation of mycosis fungoides

Abstract Hyperpigmented mycosis fungoides is an extremely rare subtype of mycosis fungoides. It presents as multiple pigmented macules and patches without poikilodermatous changes and characterized by a CD8+ phenotype on immunohistochemistry. This report describes a typical case of hyperpigmented mycosis fungoides in a 62-year-old woman, who presented with a 7-year history of multiple hyperpigmented macules and patches on the trunk and right leg with progression over this half a year. Histology and immunohistochemical staining of skin samples confirmed the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides. She received psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy. After an 8-week treatment, the erythematous changes cleared without recurrence during a 6-month follow-up period. An intractable hyperpigmented patch should raise the clinical suspicion of mycosis fungoides with sequential skin biopsy.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus: diagnosis and therapeutic challenge

Abstract Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a variant of lichen planopilaris with marginal progressive hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows and axillae. We report a case of frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus in a postmenopausal woman, that started with alopecia on the eyebrows and then on the frontoparietal region, with periocular and cervical hyperpigmentation of difficult management. The condition was controlled with systemic corticosteroid therapy and finasteride. Lichen planus pigmentosus is an uncommon variant of lichen planus frequently associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia in darker phototipes. It should be considered in patients affected by scarring alopecia with a pattern of lichen planopilaris and areas of skin hyperpigmentation revealing perifollicular hyperpigmentation refractory to multiple treatments. This case illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in face of scarring alopecia and perifollicular hyperpigmentation.

Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Fixed Dose Combination of 3% Biophytex LS 8740 and 5% Proteasyl TP LS 8657 Cream in the Treatment of Under Eye Dark Circles (Infra-orbital Hyperchromia).

Background: Under Eye Dark Circles is attributed to multiple factors. The treatment should address the various pathologies involved to provide the best possible effects. Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of Wunder eye cream (a combination of 3% Biophytex LS 8740 and 5% Proteasyl TP LS 8657) in patients with under eye dark circles. Study Design: Open label, prospective, single arm and multicentric post marketing surveillance clinical study. Materials and Methods: 142 patients (125 males and 17 females) were evaluated in the study. Wunder Eye cream was applied twice daily on the affected under eye dark circle area for eight weeks. Parameters evaluated were area of under eye pigmentation, improvement in luminance of under eye skin, reduction in under eye puffiness and reduction in under eye wrinkles using a digital camera photographs after four and eight weeks of treatment. Safety evaluation was also done on the same time. The values were compared using Chi-Square test. Results: Early response was seen in 40% of patients with four weeks of treatment where 50% improvement in all the parameters was seen. With eight weeks of therapy about 92.3% of patients showed 50 to 100% improvement in the area of under eye pigmentation; 50% to 75% improvement was seen in 87.3% of patients for under eye pigmentation, in 80.1% patients for luminance of under eye skin, in 68% patients for under eye puffiness and in 67.4% of patients for under eye wrinkles. Conclusion: Wunder eye cream is a combination of botanical and yeast extracts was found to be effective against under eye dark circles.

Hiperpigmentación cutánea y homeostasis del hierro: rol de la hepcidina / Cutaneous hyperpigmentation and homeostasis of iron: role of the hepcidin

La hiperpigmentación cutánea por melanina en zonas expuestas al sol puede estar asociada a un desequilibrio en la homeostasis del hierro. La hepcidina es un péptido responsable de la regulación negativa de la absorción del hierro en el intestino delgado y de su liberación por los macrófagos. Posee capacidad antimicrobiana. Es sintetizada en el hígado, secretada al torrente circulatorio y excretada por la orina. La sobreexpresión causa anemia y su déficit, sobrecarga de hierro (acumulación en diferentes órganos y hemocromatosis hereditaria). Los antagonistas de la hepcidina podrían utilizarse en el tratamiento de la anemia resistente a eritropoyetina, asociada a procesos crónicos. Por su parte, los agonistas o sustancias que estimulen la producción de hepcidina, podrían constituir un tratamiento en enfermedades con sobrecarga de hierro (siderosis) y por consiguiente, corregir la hiperpigmentación asociada.

The cutaneous hyperpigmentation by melanin in zones of the skin exposed to the sun can be associated to an imbalance in the homeostasis of the iron. The hepcidin is a peptide responsible for the negative regulation of the absorption of the iron in the small intestine and of its liberation by the macrophages. It has, in addition, antimicrobial capacity. It is synthesized in the liver, secreted to the circulatory torrent and excreted by the urine. Its overexpression causes anemia and its deficit iron overload (accumulation in different organs and hereditary hemochromatosis), The antagonists of the hepcidin, could be used in the treatment of anemia resistant to erythropoyetin associated to chronic processes. On the other hand, the agonists or substances that stimulate the hepcidin production, could constitute a treatment in diseases with overload of iron (siderosis) and therefore, to correct the associate.hyperpigmentation.