Comparison of hair reduction by intensive pulsed light device and combined intense pulsed light with a bipolar radiofrequency.

BACKGROUND: Photoepilation has become a very popular epilation procedure in esthetic and cosmetic practice. There are some types of lasers and other light sources used for epilation. AIMS: The purpose of our study was to compare an IPL device with an IPL plus RF in one device, using a within-patient, right-left controlled study design. PATIENTS/METHODS: Thirty-three patients completed four treatment sessions and the follow-up period of the study. RESULTS: Hair reduction was effective after the first treatment, but similar results were achieved using the IPL system alone, and with IPL combined with RF. The degree of hair reduction increased after the following treatments, but the two methods yielded similar effects. Three months after the last treatment, some hair had regrown in both treatments, the combined IPL with RF treatment gave significantly better results than the IPL treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, IPL and IPL-RF are effective hair reduction therapies, yielding similar effects in patients with skin phototypes II or III. However, IPL-RF can be more effective in long-term observations. These therapies are also safe and regarded be quite comfortable in this population.

The evaluation of elasticity after nonablative radiofrequency rejuvenation.

BACKGROUND: Laxity and rhytides are manifestations of photodamage on the face and chest. Nonablative radiofrequency (RF) is one of the most common procedures used for skin rejuvenation. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the elasticity of face and chest skin after multipolar radiofrequency. PATIENTS/METHODS: Thirty women, aged 43-68, were included in the study. Twenty women were postmenopausal and 10 were premenopausal. They received 4 treatment sessions with an application of nonablative radiofrequency in 2-week intervals. Biomechanical properties of the skin were measured with the use of a Cutometer. RESULTS: The objective evaluation in a cutometric analysis showed a statistically significant improvement between measurements taken in the pretreatment period and 3 months after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The study is an objective confirmation that RF treatment improves skin elasticity. The method may appear to be beneficial for women of any age and skin types. It is a noninvasive treatment with a low risk of complications.

Evaluation of the relation between lipid coat, transepidermal water loss, and skin pH.

OBJECTIVE: The epidermis is an epidermal barrier which accumulates lipid substances and participates in skin moisturizing. An evaluation of the epidermal barrier efficiency can be made, among others, by the measurement of the following values: the lipid coat, the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) index, and pH. MATERIALS: The study involved 50 Caucasian, healthy women aged 19-35 years (mean 20.56). METHODS: Measurements were made using Courage & Khazaka Multi Probe Adapter MPA 580: Tewameter TM 300, pH-Meter PH 905, Sebumeter SM 815. The areas of measurements included forehead, nose, left cheek, right cheek, chin, and thigh. RESULTS: In the T-zone, the lipid coat was in the range between 0 and 270 µg/cm2 (mean 128 µg/cm2 ), TEWL between 1 and 55 g/m2 /h (mean 11.1 g/m2 /h), and pH 4.0-5.6 (mean 5.39). Lower values of the lipid coat up to 100 µg/cm2 were accompanied by TEWL greater than 30 g/m2 /h and less acidic pH of 5.6-9.0. In the U-zone the range of lipid coat was up to 200 µg/cm2 (mean 65.2 µg/cm2 ), the skin pH remained 4.0-5.6 (mean 5.47), and TEWL was in the range between 1 and 20 g/m2 /h (mean 8.7 g/m2 /h). Lower values of the lipid coat up to 100 µg/cm2 were accompanied by TEWL between 1 and 20 g/m2 /h and less acidic pH of 5.6-9.0. High values of the lipid coat between 180 and 200 µg/cm2 were connected with TEWL of 1-15 g/m2 /h. On the skin of the thigh, we observed a very thin lipid coat - 35 µg/cm2 (mean 5.6 µg/cm2 ), pH (mean 5.37), and TEWL (mean 8.5 g/m2 /h) were considered by us to be within regular limits. CONCLUSIONS: In the T-zone, a thinner lipid coat resulted in relatively high TEWL and pH levels changing toward alkaline. In the U-zone, thinner lipid coat was accompanied by lower TEWL and pH changing toward alkaline. We also observed that lower values of lipid coat up to 100 µg/cm2 were associated with higher pH values ranging toward the basic character pH 5.6-9.0).

[Radon concentrations in selected residential buildings in the city of Lódz]. / Stezenie radonu wwybranych budynkach mieszkalnych na terenie miasta Lodzi.

BACKGROUND: Radon and its decay products in the atmosphere are the most important contributors to human exposure from natural sources. In Poland, the total annual effective dose from indoor radon is 1.36 mSv. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over the past twenty years, the measurements of radon concentration in the building indoor air were performed three times by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódz, with the use of track detector CR-39 enclosed in NRPB cassette. Those measurements were taken in the ground floor of each building. RESULTS: The average annual radon concentration was 89 Bq/m3 in 1998/1999; 75 Bq/m3 in 2008/2009; and 52 Bq/m3 in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming that a human spends at home about 5000 hours per annum and using suitable conversion factors, the dose from radon the inhabitants under study are exposed to varies from 0.9 to 1.1 mSv and it is lower than average dose for the Polish population.