[Influence of an adjuvant treatment with an emollient containing 10 % urea, ceramides, glycerin und glyceryl glucoside in patients with psoriasis vulgaris]. / Einfluss einer adjuvanten Basistherapie mit 10 % Urea, Ceramiden, Glycerin und Glyceryl Glucoside bei Patienten mit Psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines generally recommend an adjuvant treatment with emollients for patients suffering from psoriasis. However evidence for this purpose is limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study with an emollient containing 10% urea, ceramides, glycerin and glyceryl glucoside in patients suffering from mild to moderate psoriasis. The patients had to be stable for at least 12 weeks on prior antipsoriatic therapy including topical therapy, systemic treatment or phototherapy which was continued during the trial. RESULTS: A 4-week daily application of the emollient resulted in significant improvement regarding quality of life (measured by DLQI, Dermatology Life Quality Index) and clinical outcome (measured by local PASI, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) among the treated patients. CONCLUSION: The trial results show that a daily adjuvant treatment with emollients can support a basic antipsoriatic therapy both in aspects of clinical efficacy and quality of life in mild to moderate patients suffering from psoriasis.

Skin-lightening effects of a new face care product in patients with melasma.

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common pigmentation disorder having considerable effect on patients' emotional and psychological well-being. OBJECTIVE: Assessment of efficacy and tolerability of a new face care product for the targeted spot treatment of darker pigmented areas in subjects with melasma and evaluation of effects on patients' quality of life. METHODS: Twenty subjects with melasma were enrolled in this study. Data of 19 participants were available for analysis. Melasma severity was evaluated at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks by using the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI). Furthermore, chromametry and digital image analysis of videomicroscopic photographs were performed, and quality of life was measured using the Melasma Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: The application of the product resulted in a significant lightening of melasma in comparison with baseline and to untreated control areas. The MASI score dropped by more than 40% after 8 weeks. Measurement of skin color by chromametry revealed lightening of pigmented areas and a significant decrease in contrast between melasma and normal-pigmented surrounding skin. These results were confirmed by digital image analysis. Tolerability of the product was rated to be excellent, and patients experienced a significant gain in quality of life. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that the new face care product is effective and highly skin tolerable and clearly improves quality of life of patients with melasma.