The emerging topic of injected cosmetic fillers in the perinasal region of dromedary camels: ultrasonographic and radiographic verification.

Background: Dermal cosmetic fillers have been commonly used in camels in the last few years in Gulf countries. Aim: This study aimed to describe the radiographic as well as sonographic findings of injected cosmetic fillers in Arabian camel perinasal region in beauty shows. Methods: A total number of (n = 11,626) Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) were thoroughly investigated for injection of cosmetic fillers in the perinasal area. The age of the camels was 6 months to 10 years, and their weights were 400-650 kg. In parallel, a control group consisting of 30 age/weight-matched non-injected camels was used. Of the 11,626 examined camels, 25 animals (0.0.002%) were injected with cosmetic fillers in the perinasal region. Of the 25 camels, 19 (76%) were females and 6 (24%) were males. Radiographic examinations were carried out for the 25 injected camel perinasal regions. Results: Ultrasonographic examination of the injected perinasal regions revealed precise discrimination of the filler material, which appeared hypo-echogenic in 17 camels (68%) and with anechoic spots in the remaining 8 camels (32%). Variable degrees of swelling caused by the injection of moderate and large quantities of fillers were noted by radiographic assessment, the injected cosmetic filler was precisely diagnosed in the perinasal region as grey in color having soft tissue density in obtained radiographs. Conclusion: In conclusion, radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations are reliable, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic imaging techniques that can precisely discriminate a filler agent in the soft tissues and determine the situ and size of cutaneous deposits in dromedary camels (C. dromedarius).

Influence of cosmetic foundation cream on skin condition during treadmill exercise.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing trend of individuals wearing cosmetics while participating in physical activities. Nonetheless, there remains a need for further understanding regarding the effects of makeup on the facial epidermis during exercise, given the existing knowledge gaps. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cosmetic foundation cream on skin conditions during physical activity. METHODS: Forty-three healthy college students, 20 males (26.3 ± 1.5 years) and 23 females (23.1 ± 1.0 years), were enrolled in this study. Foundation cream was applied to participants on half of the face in two different areas (MT: makeup T zone and MU: makeup U zone). The other half of the face served as internal control (T: non-makeup T zone and U: non-makeup U zones). Skin levels of moisture, elasticity, pore, sebum, and oil were measured using a skin analysis device (Aramhuvis, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea) before and after a 20-min treadmill exercise. Paired t-test and independent t-test were performed for skin condition measurements at pre- and postexercise. RESULTS: The skin moisture levels in both the T and MT significantly increased after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 24.5 ± 1.3, post-T: 38.5 ± 3.5 and pre-MT: 18.7 ± 0.7, post-MT: 40.4 ± 4.8). Elasticity also significantly improved in both the T and MT (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 25.6 ± 1.3, post-T: 41.5 ± 3.5 and pre-MT: 20.0 ± 0.9, post-MT: 41.7 ± 3.7). The size of the pores in the T zone observed a significant increase after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre-T: 41.7 ± 2.1, post-T: 47.8 ± 2.4). The sebum levels in the T zone exhibited a reduction following physical activity, whereas there was a notable increase in sebum levels in the makeup zones (p < 0.05) (pre-MT: 2.4 ± 0.7, post-MT:4.2 ± 0.8 and pre MU 1.8 ± 0.34, post MU 4.9 ± 0.9). The oil level was increased in the non-makeup zones (pre-T: 6.1 ± 1.4, post-T: 11.8 ± 2.0 and pre-U: 7.3 ± 1.5, post-U: 11.9 ± 1.9; p < 0.05) and decreased in the makeup zones (pre-MT: 13.3 ± 1.9, post-MT: 7.4 ± 2.3 and pre-MU: 22.1 ± 2.4, post-MU: 3.2 ± 1.0; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that using foundation cream during aerobic exercise can reduce skin oil, causing dryness. Additionally, makeup can clog pores and increase sebum production. Therefore, wearing makeup may not be recommended for people with dry skin conditions based on the results of the current study. This research offers important insights to the public, encouraging them to consider the possible consequences of using makeup while exercising.

Arc-poration improves transdermal delivery of biomolecules.

BACKGROUND: To increase skin permeability, various transdermal delivery techniques have been developed. However, due to the stratum corneum as a skin barrier, transdermal delivery remains limited. AIMS: In this study, we evaluated efficacy and safety of arc-poration as a novel technique disrupting the stratum corneum. RESULTS: Optical images and histological analysis using reconstituted human skin and porcine skin showed that the treatment of arc-poration created micropores with an average diameter of approximately 100 µm only to the depth of the stratum corneum, but not viable epidermis. In addition, the Franz diffusion cell experiment using reconstituted human skin showed a remarkable increase in permeability following pretreatment with arc-poration. Clinical results clearly demonstrated the enhancement of the skin-improving effect of cosmetics by pretreatment of arc-poration in terms of gloss, hydration, flakiness, texture, tone, tone evenness, and pigmentation of skin, without causing abnormal skin responses. The concentration of ozone and nitrogen oxides generated by arc-poration was below the permissible value for the human body. CONCLUSIONS: Arc-poration can increase skin permeability by creating stratum corneum-specific micropores, which can enhance the skin-improving effect of cosmetics without adverse responses.

Deep learning-based skin care product recommendation: A focus on cosmetic ingredient analysis and facial skin conditions.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for cosmetics are gaining popularity, but they are not being made with consideration of the analysis of cosmetic ingredients, which customers consider important when selecting cosmetics. AIMS: This article aims to propose a method for estimating the efficacy of cosmetics based on their ingredients and introduces a system that recommends personalized products for consumers, combined with AI skin analysis. METHODS: We constructed a deep neural network architecture to analyze sequentially arranged cosmetic ingredients in the product and incorporated skin analysis models to get the precise skin status of users from frontal face images. Our recommendation system makes decisions based on the results optimized for the individual. RESULTS: Our cosmetic recommendation system has shown its effectiveness through reliable evaluation metrics, and numerous examples have demonstrated its ability to make reasonable recommendations for various skin problems. CONCLUSION: The result shows that deep learning methods can be used to predict the effects of products based on their cosmetic ingredients and are available for use in personalized cosmetic recommendations.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cosmetic trial of a topical first-in-class Neutraligand targeting the chemokine TARC/CCL17 in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis has a marked economic impact and affects the quality of life. A cosmetic compound with an innovative strategy is proposed here as a small chemical neutraligand, GPN279 (previously identified as a theophylline derivative), that binds and potently neutralizes the TARC/CCL17 chemokine, activating the Th2 cell-expressed CCR4 receptor. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the safety and activity of topically applied GPN279 in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. Such cosmetic active ingredient targeting dry skin with an atopic tendency would open a parallel strategy to the pharmaceutical approach, in particular for mild to moderate subjects, as an alternative to reduce the evolution towards severe forms of atopy. METHODS: This 4-week trial included adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, according to the SCORAD index. Patients were randomized into two groups treated by topical applications of either an emulsion containing 0.44% GPN279 in placebo on skin lesions or the placebo (4.56% glycerin). Clinical activity was evaluated with the SCORAD as the primary objective. As secondary objectives, POEM, erythema, skin moisturization, its barrier function (TEWL) and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients in each group completed the study. SCORAD was significantly improved in the GPN279 group vs. placebo. GPN279 also significantly improved POEM, induced a rapid and significant decrease of erythema, and improved skin moisture. GPN279 and placebo were well tolerated throughout the study. CONCLUSION: A cosmetic cream comprising the CCL17 neutraligand GPN279 improved the skin barrier and physiology criteria in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

GÉNÉRALITÉS: La dermatite atopique a un impact économique marqué et affecte la qualité de vie. Un composé cosmétique dote d'une stratégie innovante est proposé ici sous la forme d'un petit neutraligand chimique, le GPN279 (précédemment identifié comme un dérivé de la théophylline), qui se lie et neutralise puissamment la chimiokine TARC/CCL17, activant le récepteur CCR4 exprimé par les cellules Th2. OBJECTIF: Notre objectif était d'évaluer l'innocuité et l'activité du GPN279 appliqué localement chez des patients atteints de dermatite atopique légère à modérée dans un essai randomisé, en double aveugle contre placebo et en groupes parallèles. Un tel actif cosmétique ciblant les peaux sèches à tendance atopique ouvrirait une stratégie parallèle à l'approche pharmaceutique, notamment pour les sujets atteints de forme légère à modérée, comme alternative visant à réduire l'évolution vers des formes sévères d'atopie. MÉTHODES: Cet essai de 4 semaines incluait des adultes atteints de dermatite atopique légère à modérée, selon l'indice SCORAD. Les patients ont été randomisés en deux groupes traités par application topique sur les lésions cutanées soit d'une émulsion contenant 0,44% de GPN279 dans un placebo, soit du placebo seul (4,56% de glycérine). L'activité clinique a été évaluée selon l'indice SCORAD comme objectif principal. Les objectifs secondaires évaluaient le POEM, l'érythème, l'hydratation de la peau, sa fonction barrière (TEWL) et la sécurité. RÉSULTATS: Vingt et un patients de chaque groupe ont terminé l'étude. L'indice SCORAD a été significativement amélioré dans le groupe GPN279 par rapport au placebo. Le GPN279 a également amélioré de manière significative le POEM, a induit une diminution rapide et significative de l'érythème et amélioré l'hydratation de la peau. Le GPN279 et le placebo ont été bien tolérés tout au long de l'étude. CONCLUSION: Une crème cosmétique contenant le neutraligand CCL17 GPN279 améliore la barrière cutanée et les critères physiologiques chez les patients atteints de dermatite atopique légère à modérée.

Combining topical dermal infused exosomes with injected calcium hydroxylapatite for enhanced tissue biostimulation.

BACKGROUND: Exosome research continues to flourish. Subsequent knowledge surrounding indications, dose-response, safety, efficacy, and the ability to combine exosome treatment as a "skin primer"-for biostimulation modalities such as calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) is growing rapidly. The objective of this study was to develop safe, reproducible methods of improving topical exosome absorption to enhance the quality of skin either by themselves, or in combination with injectable CaHA. METHODS: Under IRB Approval (International Cell Surgical Society: ICSS-2022-007), 40 patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients underwent facial biostimulatory dermal infusion alone, to determine if this method allowed adequate exosome absorption. Five patients underwent facial biostimulatory infusion followed immediately by Dilute CaHA injection (1:1 dilution) to the face. Five patients underwent exosome biostimulatory dermal infusion followed immediately by hyperdilute CaHA (dilution 1:4) injection to the neck. Five patients underwent Facial Dilute CaHA injection (1:1 dilution) alone, without dermal infusion. Five patients underwent neck hyperdilute CaHA injection (1:4 dilution) alone, without dermal infusion. All patients had pretreatment Quantificare 3-D photo-documentation and skin analysis (Quantificare, France). In all patients, the skin was first cleansed with a gentle glycolic acid facial wash (Gregory MD). To induce a "homing inflammatory environment" for the exosomes, sea salt exfoliation was performed (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA). A nitric oxide-generating serum (N101 Pneuma Nitric Oxide, Austin, TX) was then applied to act as an enhanced vehicle for absorption. A 3 MHz ultrasound (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA) was then utilized to further deepen the absorption of the nitric oxide serum. A topical emulsion containing equal volumes (1.0 cc containing 1 million) of exosomes (Kimera Labs, Miramar, FL), 25 units of botulinum toxin (Xeomin, Merz Aesthetics, Raleigh, NC) and hyaluronic acid (Belatero, Merz Aesthetics, Raleigh, NC) was mixed via back-and-forth propulsion in a 3-cc syringe. When adequately mixed, the emulsion was then applied to the treatment areas. The cavitating ultrasound was then used to aid in the absorption of the emulsion. The patients were then treated with high-intensity LED therapy (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA), utilizing the collagen restoration preset program of combination red (660 nm) near-infrared (930 nm) wavelength for 20 min. Post-treatment Quantificare analysis was performed at 15 and 30 days after treatment. RESULTS: Without exception, all dermal infusion alone and CaHA injection alone patients showed an improvement in the tone, quality, and texture of their skin. Quantificare results showed consistent improvement in wrinkles, pores, skin evenness, improved vascularity, and a reduction in oiliness and unwanted pigment. When employed as a skin primer prior to injections (CaHA), enhanced and more rapid results were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Biostimulatory dermal infusion can be achieved utilizing topical placental mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes. These exosomes can be used alone, or mixed with ancillary ingredients such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid dermal filler, and CaHA to customize and personalize treatments based upon individual patient needs. Topical absorption is enhanced with sea salt exfoliation, a topical nitric oxide-generating serum, and 3 MHz cavitating ultrasound. Post-absorption activity is enhanced with high-intensity LED treatment. The addition of CaHA injections after the topical exosome "priming of the skin" yielded enhanced skin quality faster than exosomes or CaHA alone.

The Many Faces of Pediatric Acne: How to Tailor Nonprescription Acne Treatment and Skincare Using Cleansers and Moisturizers.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common, complex, multifactorial disorder. Various expressions of acne in childhood can be categorized by age, severity, and pubertal status. OBJECTIVE: To improve pediatric acne patients’ outcomes, various expressions of pediatric acne to educate and tailor nonprescription acne treatment and skincare using cleansers and moisturizers were defined and discussed. METHODS: An expert panel of pediatric dermatologists and dermatologists reviewed and discussed nonprescription acne treatment and skincare literature. The results from the literature searches were used together with the panel’s expert opinion and experience to adopt various expressions of pediatric acne and prevention, treatment, and maintenance of the condition using nonprescription acne treatment and skincare. RESULTS: The panel agreed on sixteen acne patient profiles addressing various age categories of pediatric acne: neonatal acne: birth to ≤ 8 weeks; infantile acne: 8 weeks to ≤1 year; mid-childhood acne: 1 year to <7 years; preadolescent acne: ≥7 to 12 years; adolescent acne: ≥12 to 19 years or after menarche for girls. Nonprescription acne treatment and skincare products containing lipids such as ceramides play an important role in monotherapy, adjunctive, and maintenance treatment; however, their role in pediatric acne is not well defined and requires more studies. CONCLUSION: Pediatric acne deserves more attention from healthcare providers treating children regarding differential diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance using nonprescription acne treatment and skincare. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(6):602-612. doi:10.36849/JDD.6872.

Investigation of actual exposure to facial sheet mask preceding its risk assessment.

The present study aimed to reveal the amount per application of facial sheet masks and its influencing factors in Chinese population to form the base for an accurate exposure assessment. A total of 175 healthy subjects aged 18 years or older were recruited and divided into two subgroups: one group of 35 subjects were asked to apply same mask for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min respectively, and the other 140 subjects were instructed to apply one of four types of facial sheet masks presented in the market for 15 min. Furthermore, phenoxyethanol and methylparaben were measured to reflect actual exposure to chemicals. The sharp increase in the relative exposure to phenoxyethanol (CAS NO.122-99-6) and methylparaben at 25 min and longer suggests applying facial sheet masks for longer than 20 min may drive the exposure to hazardous chemicals to increase significantly. The 90th percentile of amount per application for plant-cellulose, bamboo charcoal fiber, bio-cellulose, and binchotan charcoal fiber-based masks was 5.753, 5.371, 5.017, and 4.821 g respectively. In addition, men and subjects with sebaceous skin demonstrated lower amount per application compared to women and subjects with dry skin, respectively. Finally, our data showed that the larger the contacting area between face and mask, the more amount per application. We concluded that the appropriate time of application should be less than 20 min. And mask fabrics, gender, sebum content, and contacting area could significantly impact the risk assessment of facial sheet masks. Our data for the first time provides insights into a realistic risk assessment of facial sheet masks in Chinese population.

Patterns of Allergic Contact Dermatitis in African Americans in a Major Metropolitan Area Over a 10-Year Period.

BACKGROUND: Differences in patterns of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) among underrepresented minority populations are not well studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate patterns of ACD in African American and White patch-tested patients in a distinct metropolitan area over a 10-year period. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 297 ACD patients patch tested from 2009 to 2019. Differences in allergen frequency, relevance, and sources of exposure were evaluated. Fisher exact test analyses were performed to examine these differences. RESULTS: Among 297 patients, 215 were White and 47 were African American. The most common sensitizers differed between the 2 groups. African American patients also reacted with statistically significant greater frequency to disperse dye blue (P = 0.019) and textile dye mix (P = 0.001). The most common source of positive patch tests for all patients was personal care products (72%). Occupational allergy was greater in African American male patients, and personal care product exposure was greater in White male patients (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the differing patterns of sensitization seen in African American and White patients. This is likely due to differences in personal care product use or occupational allergy. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to expand upon these differences.

Cosmetic Applications of Bee Venom.

Bee venom (BV) is a typical toxin secreted by stingers of honeybee workers. BV and BV therapy have long been attractive to different cultures, with extensive studies during recent decades. Nowadays, BV is applied to combat several skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, alopecia, vitiligo, and psoriasis. BV is used extensively in topical preparations as cosmetics and used as dressing for wound healing, as well as in facemasks. Nevertheless, the safety of BV as a therapeutic choice has always been a concern due to the immune system reaction in some people due to BV use. The documented unfavorable impact is explained by the fact that the skin reactions to BV might expand to excessive immunological responses, including anaphylaxis, that typically resolve over numerous days. This review aims to address bee venom therapeutic uses in skin cosmetics.

The Emerging Role of Ionic Liquid-Based Approaches for Enhanced Skin Permeation of Bioactive Molecules: A Snapshot of the Past Couple of Years.

Topical and transdermal delivery systems are of undeniable significance and ubiquity in healthcare, to facilitate the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients, respectively, onto or across the skin to enter systemic circulation. From ancient ointments and potions to modern micro/nanotechnological devices, a variety of approaches has been explored over the ages to improve the skin permeation of diverse medicines and cosmetics. Amongst the latest investigational dermal permeation enhancers, ionic liquids have been gaining momentum, and recent years have been prolific in this regard. As such, this review offers an outline of current methods for enhancing percutaneous permeation, highlighting selected reports where ionic liquid-based approaches have been investigated for this purpose. Future perspectives on use of ionic liquids for topical delivery of bioactive peptides are also presented.

Phytoestrogens (Resveratrol and Equol) for Estrogen-Deficient Skin-Controversies/Misinformation versus Anti-Aging In Vitro and Clinical Evidence via Nutraceutical-Cosmetics.

The overarching theme for this review is perspective. Superfoods (a marketing term for fruits and vegetables, etc.) have a positive connotation, while many superfoods contain phytoestrogens, a term that is alarming to the public and has a negative connotation because phytoestrogens are endocrine-disruptors, even though they are strong antioxidants that have many health benefits. To understand phytoestrogens, this paper provides a brief summary of the characteristics of: (a) estrogens, (b) estrogen receptors (ER), (c) estrogen-deficient skin, (d) how perspective(s) get off track, (e) phytoestrogen food sources, and (f) misconceptions of phytoestrogens and food safety, in general, that influence person(s) away from what is true. Finally, a brief history of cosmetics to nutraceuticals is covered plus the characteristics of phytoestrogens, resveratrol and equol on: (g) estrogen receptor binding, (h) topical and oral dosing, and (i) in vitro, molecular mechanisms and select clinical evidence, where both phytoestrogens (resveratrol and equol) demonstrate promising applications to improve skin health is presented along with future directions of nutraceuticals. Perspective is paramount in understanding the controversies associated with superfoods, phytoestrogens, and endocrine-disruptors because they have both positive and negative connotations. Everyone is exposed to and consumes these molecules everyday regardless of age, gender, or geographic location around the world, and how we understand this is a matter of perspective.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Astaxanthin on Human Skin Ageing.

CONTEXT: Astaxanthin (ASX), a xanthophyll carotenoid derived from microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, mitigating skin photoaging and age-related skin diseases by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to systematically evaluate if ASX applications have anti-ageing effects in humans. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science found a total of eleven studies. Nine randomised, controlled human studies assessed oral ASX effects and two open-label, prospective studies evaluated topical, oral-topical ASX effects on skin ageing. GetData Graph Digitizer was used to extract mean values and standard deviations of baseline and endpoint, and Cochrane Collaboration's tool assessed RoB for all included studies. Review Manager 5.4 was used to conduct meta-analysis of RCTs; the results were reported as effect size ± 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Oral ASX supplementation significantly restored moisture content (SMD = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.05, 1.01; I2 = 52%; p = 0.03) and improved elasticity (SMD = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.19, 1.35; I2 = 75%; p = 0.009) but did not significantly decrease wrinkle depth (SMD = -0.26; 95% CI = -0.58, 0.06; I2 = 0%; p = 0.11) compared to placebo. Open-label, prospective studies suggested slightly protective effects of topical and oral-topical ASX applications on skin ageing. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion and/or topical usages of ASX may be effective in reducing skin ageing and have promising cosmetical potential, as it improves moisture content and elasticity and reduces wrinkles.

Treatment challenges in adult female acne and future directions.

Introduction: Acne is a chronic, inflammatory, and immune-mediated disease of the pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents. However, an increasing number of adults over 25 years old with facial acne, particularly women, have been observed. It is considered a different disease when compared to acne vulgaris. Face is the mainly involved area with inflammatory lesions and more sensitive skin, pointing out the need of a holistic approach.Areas covered: We performed a comprehensive literature search on PubMed database, up to January 2021, regarding adult female acne. We synthesized data about pathogenesis; differences compared to acne vulgaris; and treatment, with focus in the management challenges and perspectives.Expert opinion: It is essential to value the negative impact on quality of life of adult female acne, independently of severity. The disease has prolonged evolution, and patient might be resilient once the improvement, regardless of the treatment option, will just be noticeable after 3 months. Aggravating factors should be clearly discussed, such as the need of changing many habits, especially lesions manipulation. The therapeutic regimen includes make-up and tailored skin care (considering proneness to sensitivity), while anti-acne drugs should be chosen in accordance with desire to be pregnant, presence of pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Cytotoxic, genotoxic, and toxicogenomic effects of dihydroxyacetone in human primary keratinocytes.

PURPOSE: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the only ingredient approved by the U.S. FDA as a colour additive in sunless tanning (self-tanning) products. Consumer sunless tanning products available for retail purchase contain 1-15% DHA. Although originally thought to only interact with the stratum corneum, more recent research has shown that DHA penetrates beyond the stratum corneum to living keratinocytes indicating a possible route of exposure in the epidermis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK) were used to determine any potential in vitro toxicological effects of DHA in the epidermis. NHEK cells exposed to DHA concentrations up to 0.90% (100 mM) in dosing media were evaluated for viability, genotoxicity (Comet Assay), and gene expression changes by microarray analysis. RESULTS: Cell viability significantly decreased ∼50% after 3-h exposure to 50 and 100 mM DHA. DNA damage was only found to be significantly increased in cells exposed to cytotoxic DHA concentrations. A subtoxic dose of DHA induced significant gene expression changes. Particularly, expression of cyclin B1, CDK1, and six other genes associated with the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint was significantly decreased which correlates well with a G2/M block reported in the existing literature. Advanced Glycation End Product (AGE) formation significantly increased after 24 h of DHA exposure at and above 10 mM. In summary, these data show that DHA is cytotoxic above 25 mM in primary keratinocytes. Genotoxicity was detected only at cytotoxic concentrations, likely indicative of non-biologically relevant DNA damage, while subtoxic doses induce gene expression changes and glycation. CONCLUSION: DHA treatment had a significant and negative effect on primary keratinocytes consistent with in vitro cultured cell outcomes; however, more information is needed to draw conclusions about the biological effect of DHA in human skin.

Treatment Update of Port-Wine Stain: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Port-wine stain (PWS) is a congenital vascular malformation affecting 0.3–0.5% of normal population. These characteristic lesions arise due to the interplay of vascular, neural, and genetic factors. Treatment options include lasers, cosmetic tattooing, electrotherapy, cryosurgery, derma-abrasion, and skin grafting; however, none of these treatment alternatives appears to be satisfactory and is unable to provide consistent, satisfactory responses or even complete cures. Currently, laser is the treatment of choice, as it is comparatively safe and more effective than other procedures. The most commonly used modality is pulsed dye laser (PDL). The literature research includes peer-reviewed articles (clinical trials or scientific reviews). Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE and PubMed) to January 2020 and reference lists of respective articles. Only articles published in English language were included. J Drugs Dermatol. 20(5): doi:10.36849/JDD.5005.

ARTICLE: Models to Study Skin Lipids in Relation to the Barrier Function: A Modern Update on Models and Methodologies Evaluating Skin Barrier Function.

The skin barrier is a multifaceted microenvironment, comprised not only of structural and molecular components that maintain its integrity, but also a lipid matrix comprising an equimolar ratio of cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ceramides. Lipid abnormalities induced by environmental or pathological stimuli are often associated with impaired skin barrier function and integrity. Incorporation of skin lipids in skincare formulations to help fortify barrier function has become widespread. While there are resources available to study the barrier, a comprehensive evaluation of skin models, from in situ to in vivo, that focus on alterations of the lipid content, seems to be lacking. This article reviews current methods to evaluate the skin lipid barrier and touches upon the significance of using such models within the cosmetic field to study formulations that incorporate barrier lipids. J Drugs Dermatol. 20(4 Suppl):s10-16. doi:10.36849/JDD.S589B.