Comparative Study Between Tacrolimus 0.1% Ointment Versus Topical White Soft Petrolatum Jelly in the Treatment of Oral Retinoid-Induced Cheilitis.

Retinoids are used topically as well as orally, and the most commonly used oral retinoids are isotretinoin and acitretin. Mucocutaneous adverse effects are frequently seen with the use of systemic retinoids, the most common being cheilitis, which is dose-dependent and seen in almost all patients using it. To study the comparative effect of topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment versus topical white soft petrolatum jelly in the treatment of cheilitis due to retinoids. A total of 26 patients with cheilitis post-treatment with isotretinoin were enrolled in this cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 6 months. They were randomized into two groups of 13 patients each to receive topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and soft petrolatum jelly twice daily, respectively. Patients were followed up weekly with clinical photographs. Resolution of cheilitis was assessed on the basis of photograph and ICGS score. About 84.6% of patients of group A and 53.8% of patients of group B showed resolution of symptoms within 1 week of treatment. A significant difference was seen in duration for complete cheilitis resolution and relapse rate in the two groups. Our study concludes that oral retinoid-induced cheilitis shows faster and more significant resolution with twice-daily topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment application compared to twice-daily topical petrolatum jelly.

Impact of active pharmaceutical ingredient variables and oleaginous base on the in vitro drug release from ophthalmic ointments: An investigation using dexamethasone as a model drug.

The present study systematically investigates the impact of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) variables and oleaginous base characteristics on the in vitro release (IVR) performance of ophthalmic ointments, utilizing dexamethasone as a model drug. The interplay between selected attributes (i.e., particle size distribution, crystallinity, and polymorphic form for API, and rheological factors for compendial-grade white petrolatum) and IVR performance was investigated. APIs from different vendors exhibited variations in crystallinity and polymorphism. Ointments containing amorphous dexamethasone presented higher release amounts/rates compared to crystalline counterparts, emphasizing the role of physical state in release kinetics. Variations in particle size of this lipophilic API (5.4 - 21.2 µm) did not appear to impact IVR performance significantly. In contrast, white petrolatum's rheological attributes, which varied substantially within USP-grade petrolatum, were found to critically affect the drug release rate and extent of the ointment. The study's comprehensive analysis establishes a coherent connection between the quality attributes of both API and petrolatum and IVR, delineating their intricate interdependent effects on ophthalmic ointment performance. These findings provide reference to formulation design, quality control, and regulatory considerations within the pharmaceutical industry, fostering a robust foundational understanding of commonly overlooked quality attributes in ophthalmic ointments.

Friction Dynamics of Human Skin Treated with Oil under Nonlinear Motion.

Moisturization causes physiological changes that improve the barrier function of human skin and mechanical changes, including skin friction characteristics. This study evaluated petrolatum- or silicone oil-treated human skin to determine the effect of moisturizing on the friction dynamics. The friction force on the human skin was measured using a contact probe with a sinusoidal motion. The contact probe was used to rub the skin of the upper arm of 20 subjects. The water content of the stratum corneum, softness, and barrier function of the skin were measured using a corneometer, cutometer, and tewameter, respectively. Both oils reduce the frictional force on the human skin. Simultaneously, silicone oil also reduced the delay time δ, which is the standardized time difference between the frictional force response to contact probe movement. Three typical friction patterns were also discovered, which were significantly changed by the treatment with oil. These changes were attributed to the lubrication effect and elimination of adhesion at the true contact point between the skin and the contact probe.

Petroleum jelly: A comprehensive review of its history, uses, and safety.

Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, is a widely used topical agent, with a variety of uses in dermatology. Despite its popularity, many myths surround this ubiquitous dermatologic staple. This review details the history of petrolatum and how it is manufactured as well as how its biologic properties make it a great moisturizer. Additionally, data on its potential for flammability, allergenicity, and comedogenicity are detailed, dispelling misconceptions about petrolatum use around oxygen and as a cause of acne. The uses and benefits of petrolatum in dermatology are wide-ranging-a patch test instrument, a vehicle for medicated ointments, and a wound care essential. Given its ubiquitous presence, it is important for dermatologists to understand the history, safety profile, and myths surrounding this humble skincare staple.

Design of Ionic Liquid Formulations with Azone-Mimic Structures for Enhanced Drug Skin Permeation.

Although laurocapram (Azone) significantly enhances the skin permeation of drugs, its development was hindered by its skin irritation. We then developed an Azone-mimic ionic liquid (IL-Azone), composed of less irritating cationic ε-caprolactam and anionic myristic acid. IL-Azone dissociates to the original cation and anion in the presence of water in the formulation. We tried to select a formulation suitable for IL-Azone in the present study. Each formulation contained 5 % of either Azone or IL-Azone along with the model drug antipyrine, and skin permeation experiments of the drug were conducted. The results revealed that IL-Azone did not enhance skin permeation when combined with most formulations tested. However, a notable and rapid enhancement in skin permeation was observed when combined with white petrolatum. This effect could be attributed to the minimal water content in white petrolatum, which prevented IL-Azone degradation. Furthermore, its permeation-enhancing effects from IL-Azone in white petrolatum were more pronounced and rapid than Azone. The rapid onset observed with IL-Azone can be attributed to its degradation into its original components at the interface between the stratum corneum and the living epidermis, which results in a shorter lag time before achieving a steady-state concentration in the SC compared to Azone.

The Assessment of Skin Homeostasis Changes after Using Different Types of Excipients in Healthy Individuals.

Excipients are used as vehicles for topical treatments; however, there are not many studies that evaluate the impact of different excipients themselves. The aim of this research is to assess skin homeostasis changes in healthy individuals after using water/oil (W/O), oil/water (O/W), Beeler base, foam and Vaseline excipients. A within-person randomized trial was conducted that included healthy individuals without previous skin diseases. Skin barrier function parameters, including stratum corneum hydration (SCH), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pH, temperature, erythema, melanin and elasticity (R0, R2, R5 and R7), were measured on the volar forearm before and after using each excipient. Sixty participants were included in the study, with a mean age of 32 years. After applying w/o excipient erythema decreased by 25 AU, (p < 0.001) and elasticity increased by 6%. After using the o/w excipient, erythema decreased by 39.36 AU (p < 0.001) and SCH increased by 6.85 AU (p = 0.009). When applying the Beeler excipient, erythema decreased by 41.23 AU (p < 0.001) and SCH increased by 15.92 AU (p < 0.001). Foam and Vaseline decreased TEWL and erythema. Excipients have a different impact on skin barrier function. Knowing the effect of excipients on the skin could help to develop new topical treatments and help specialists to choose the best excipient according to the pathology.

Facial topical cream promotes facemask tolerability and compliance during COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Facemask use is essential for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, but may cause facial dermopathy. Topical creams may minimise facemask complications. This clinical study explores the impact of different topical creams on facemask tolerability and complications. Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving 80 adults. Participants voluntarily chose and used topical creams during facemask use. Data were collected using validated scales before and after topical cream application. Results: About 23.8% of the participants used lidocaine gel, 17.5% used petrolatum, 16.2% used hydrocortisone cream, 16.2% used diphenhydramine cream, 13.8% used arnica cream, and 12.5% used zinc oxide cream. Duration of facemask use was 6 h amongst staff and 4 h amongst patients, and was similar both with and without topical cream. Facial temperature rise was lower with all creams (p = 0.033), as was facial redness (p = 0.037) and facial pain (p = 0.025). Facemask compliance was better for all creams (p = 0.015). The facial temperature rise was the lowest with topical lidocaine (p = 0.021). Early facial redness was lowest with topical hydrocortisone or diphenhydramine (p = 0.042). Severe redness was lowest with topical hydrocortisone or zinc oxide (p = 0.044). Facemask pain was lowest with topical lidocaine (p = 0.035), and facemask compliance was best with topical lidocaine (p = 0.001). Petrolatum had the best user satisfaction and odour ratings (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Topical creams minimise facemask complications, thereby promoting compliance; topical lidocaine was the most effective in reducing pain and enabling facemask compliance. Topical hydrocortisone, diphenhydramine, and zinc oxide were effective in reducing facial redness, and topical petrolatum produced the best user satisfaction.

Development and Evaluation of Biocompatible Topical Petrolatum-liquid Crystal Formulations with Enhanced Skin Permeation Properties.

Transdermal administration represents a major advancement over traditional pharmaceutical dosing methods. However, a frequent issue is inadequate penetration of the active medicinal component through the skin. As a result, in the current research, we assessed the utility of newly developed petrolatum-liquid crystal (LC) ointment formulations and characterized their biocompatibility and function in the transdermal drug delivery system. To begin, we made petrolatum-LC formulations using p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) as a hydrophilic model molecule. The viscosity, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), particle diameters, and z-potential were measured to assess the physicochemical properties of the formulations. A dialysis release technique was used to evaluate medication release from petrolatum-LC formulations. In vitro testing was performed to determine the potential to enhance skin penetration. The biocompatibility of the produced formulations was further tested using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and single-cell gel electrophoresis. According to the results, the novel petrolatum-LC formulations are biocompatible and effective in forming hexosomes. PABA skin penetration was significantly enhanced by the new petrolatum-LC formulations. According to this study, petroleum-LC formulations are more efficient than commercial petrolatum in terms of skin permeability improvement and PABA skin concentration.

Skin occlusive performance: Sustainable alternatives for petrolatum in skincare formulations.

BACKGROUND: The emollients are important ingredients used in skincare formulations that can act as moisturizing agents through their occlusive potential, preventing skin water loss. Consumer interest in natural and sustainable products has grown considerably in the last few years, requiring efforts from the cosmetic industry to design products with raw materials of natural, organic, and sustainable origin. Thus, it is essential to improve the knowledge about the behavior of cosmetic raw materials that can be used as sustainable alternatives to synthetic ingredients. AIM: This work aimed to evaluate the occlusive performance of different vegetable oils used as emollients in skincare cosmetics, through comparative analysis with petrolatum, a synthetic emollient with a high occlusive skin potential. METHOD: The study included 80 healthy female adult volunteers. TEWL measurements were performed before and after 15 min, 2 and 6 h of emollients application on the forearms of the research participants. All research participants provided written informed consent. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that the vegetable oils were effective in providing an occlusive effect on the skin. When compared to the petrolatum, the vegetable oils did not provide a high immediate skin occlusion effect. However, most of them showed a skin occlusion performance comparable to petrolatum throughout the 6 h time course. CONCLUSION: Vegetable oils can be used as a sustainable alternative to synthetic emollients, and they are promising in replacing petrolatum in skincare formulations with respect to the occlusion effect of the skin. The vegetable oils did not provide a high immediate skin occlusion effect (15 min post-application) as the petrolatum, which is known to have increased occlusion properties. However, most of them showed a skin occlusion performance comparable to petrolatum throughout the 6-hour time course.

Effects of Manufacturing Conditions on Pharmaceutical Properties of Petrolatum Ointment-Distribution of Hydrocarbon.

Petrolatum ointment, which is an oleaginous ointment, is generally produced through manufacturing processes such as melting, mixing, and cooling. In this type of semisolid formulation, the manufacturing conditions of each process are empirically known to affect the quality of the resultant preparation; however, in many cases, the details of the factors are unclear. To clearly investigate the influence of the pharmaceutical properties of petrolatum ointments, we manufactured several ointments while changing the conditions of the mixing and cooling process after melting white petrolatum. As a result, the temperature at the termination was determined to influence the pharmaceutical properties of the final product. To investigate these phenomena, each petrolatum ointment sample was examined via digital microscopy and laser Raman analysis, and the distribution of the liquid-solid parts of samples was investigated. The internal structure of the ointment sample manufactured at a mixing-stop temperature of 40 °C, the needle crystals and the spherical aggregates surrounding them appropriately coexisted, while the structure exhibited a state wherein the two were linked in a semisolid phase. Meanwhile, for the ointment sample manufactured under the lowest mixing-stop temperature of 25 °C, the liquid part and the spherical aggregates were clearly separated, indicating that the liquid part was easily separated from ointments. In addition, the distribution of the hydrocarbons among the samples was measured via GC-MS; no significant difference in chemical structure was observed. In conclusion, the internal structure of the petrolatum ointment was changed by the manufacturing conditions, and this affected the pharmaceutical properties.

Epidermal Barrier Function and Skin Homeostasis in Skin with Permanent and Adhesive Tattoos: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Tattoos are a current trend, but their impact on skin homeostasis and epidermal barrier function is not well known. So, the aims of this study are (1) to investigate epidermal barrier function and skin homeostasis in skin with permanent tattoos, adhesive temporary tattoos and non-tattooed skin, and (2) to analyze the effect of petrolatum on skin with permanent and adhesive tattoos. In total, 67 tattoos were enrolled (34 permanent tattoos and 33 adhesive tattoos). Temperature, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), erythema and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in skin with permanent tattoos, adhesive tattoos and non-tattooed skin before and after petrolatum application. The temperature was lower (30.47 °C vs. 31.01 °C; p = 0.001) on skin with permanent tattoos than non-tattooed skin, while SCH (48.24 Arbitrary Units (AU) vs. 44.15 AU; p = 0.008) was higher. Skin with adhesive tattoos showed lower temperature, SCH (21.19 AU vs. 41.31 AU; p < 0.001) and TAC (1.27 microcoulombs (uC) vs. 3.48 uC; p < 0.001), and higher TEWL (8.65 g/h/m2 vs. 6.99 g/h/m2; p = 0.003), than non-tattooed skin. After petrolatum application, the temperature decreased on skin with permanent tattoos, and TEWL and SCH decreased on skin with adhesive tattoos. Adhesive tattoos may affect skin barrier function, while permanent tattoos may have a lower impact. Tattooed and non-tattooed skin responds in different ways to moisturizers.

Response to comment by Puppels et al. on "A modification for the calculation of water depth profiles in oil-treated skin by in vivo Raman microscopy".

The presence of penetrated oils in the stratum corneum (SC), oil-induced occlusion of the SC and formation of occluding homogeneous film on the skin surface are discussed in relation to their influence on results of water profile calculations using conventional and newly proposed extended methods. It is shown that the conventional method does not determine the water profiles in treated skin correctly due to the superposition of Raman bands of SC's proteins and penetrated and remnant oils.

Novel petrolatum-based ointment that is highly moisturizing and has superior usability with increased adherence in patients with facial dry skin.

BACKGROUND: Petrolatum is often used to suppress water evaporation from the skin surface. However, its stickiness, shininess, and other factors make it inconvenient for continuous use. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and usability between a newly developed petrolatum-based ointment (NOV® II Moisture Balm) and white petrolatum. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects with atopic dermatitis or xeroderma with symptoms of dry skin applied NOV® II Moisture Balm on the right sides of the face and white petrolatum on the left side, respectively, for 8-12 weeks. The skin conditions (erythema, exudate/crusting, dryness, and itch) were scored, stratum corneum water content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured, and the free amino acid and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) levels in the stratum corneum were analyzed before and end of the trial. RESULTS: Dryness, exudate/crusting, and TEWL decreased significantly on both the white petrolatum and the NOV® II Moisture Balm sides, while stratum corneum water content and the free amino acid levels in the stratum corneum increased significantly. On the NOV® II Moisture Balm side, erythema and the TSLP levels decreased significantly. In a questionnaire on usability, the subjects felt NOV® II Moisture Balm spread better and were less sticky and shiny than white petrolatum, and more subjects wanted to continue using NOV® II Moisture Balm. CONCLUSIONS: NOV® II Moisture Balm was equivalent to white petrolatum in moisturizing and improving the physiologic functions of the skin, but had superior usability.

Reducing unpleasant side effects of topical 5-Fluorouracil treatment for actinic keratosis: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) for prophylactic treatment of diffuse actinic keratosis results in an exuberant inflammatory reaction, contributing to patient noncompliance and dissatisfaction.Design: This 5-week split-faced, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involved 30 subjects with diffuse facial AK who received twice daily 5-FU treatment for 2 weeks. This was followed by pre-randomized twice daily use of one of three topical interventions on one half of the face. TEWL, pH, and hydration were assessed on each quadrant of the face at all visits. Additionally, photographs were subjectively graded by three blinded trained observers.Results: Thirty subjects were enrolled, and had an average 27.1 (SD 11.8, range: 13-62) palpable AKs at baseline. Average resolution of baseline AK count was 98.1% by week 4. Clobetasol propionate is best at decreasing TEWL (p = .034), while petrolatum jelly most significantly improves hydration (p = .019) and erythema (p = .014). Though controlled release skin barrier emulsion trended towards improvement in TEWL (p = .17) and hydration (p = .19), there was no significant decrease in erythema (p = .257). Patient free-text response identified erythema as the most bothersome symptom.Conclusions: Given the low cost, wide availability, and ability to significantly reduce erythema, petrolatum should be used for post-5-FU treatment for diffuse AK.

Preparation, Scanning and Analysis of Duckweed Using X-Ray Computed Microtomography.

Quantification of anatomical and compositional features underpins both fundamental and applied studies of plant structure and function. Relatively few non-invasive techniques are available for aquatic plants. Traditional methods such as sectioning are low-throughput and provide 2-dimensional information. X-ray Computed Microtomography (µCT) offers a non-destructive method of three dimensional (3D) imaging in planta, but has not been widely used for aquatic species, due to the difficulties in sample preparation and handling. We present a novel sample handling protocol for aquatic plant material developed for µCT imaging, using duckweed plants and turions as exemplars, and compare the method against existing approaches. This technique allows for previously unseen 3D volume analysis of gaseous filled spaces, cell material, and sub-cellular features. The described embedding method, utilizing petrolatum gel for sample mounting, was shown to preserve sample quality during scanning, and to display sufficiently different X-ray attenuation to the plant material to be easily differentiated by image analysis pipelines. We present this technique as an improved method for anatomical structural analysis that provides novel cellular and developmental information.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Onion Extract, Topical Steroid, and Petrolatum Emollient in Cosmetic Appearance of Upper Blepharoplasty Scar.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of onion extract, topical steroid, and petrolatum emollient in the prevention of scars in cases who underwent bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty. METHODS: A prospective, interventional, comparative, double-blinded case series was designed on cases who underwent upper lid blepharoplasty. After suture removal (1 week following the surgery), the eyelids of participants were randomly allocated into the three groups: The first group used onion extract on the right eyelids (n = 18), and the second group used topical steroid on the right eyelids (n = 19). In the third group, the control group, petrolatum emollient was used on the left eyelids (n = 37) of the first and second group's cases. They used drugs for 2 months and were evaluated by the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) objectively by two graders who were blinded to the type of medication. MSS evaluates five different characteristics of the scar in addition to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). These characteristics include color, distortion, contour, texture, and transparency. VAS scores the overall scar appearance which ranged among 0-10. The sum of the scores for the five different parameters, and VAS was calculated, analyzed, and compared among the groups. RESULTS: A total of 37 cases (74 eyelids) who underwent bilateral upper blepharoplasty were included. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age was 51.94 ± 9.26 years, 49.40 ± 9.37 years, and 47.00 ± 9.06 years in the onion extract, topical steroid, and petrolatum emollient groups, respectively (P = 0.275). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean ± SD of the sum of the MSS scores among the three groups (P = 0.924) or between the onion extract and topical steroid groups (P = 0.951). Furthermore, the color, distortion, contour, texture, transparency, and VAS scores were not statistically significantly different among the three groups or between the onion extract and topical steroid groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences among these three groups of drugs regarding the appearance of the upper blepharoplasty scar.