A Cross-Sectional Analysis of TikTok Skin Care Routines and the Associated Environmental Impact.

As aesthetic nurses are responsible for offering evidence-based skin care advice to patients, it is important that they fully understand the ingredients and formulations at their disposal. This is the first of a series of articles looking at the skin care ingredients available to nurses in aesthetic practice. The approach of this series is two-fold: firstly an in-depth look at the target ingredient or cosmeceutical category, covering topics such as development and technology, mechanisms of action, side effects and variations; and, secondly, exploring vital points of patient communication that need to be relayed during consultations. Part one of this series will explore, what peptides are, how they work, what their effects are, why they are becoming increasingly common in skin care, and how they can be successfully integrated into patients’ skin care regimens.

In recent years, aquaphotomics-based research has been actively conducted across various fields to measure, analyze, and collect spectral data related to the moisture content of diverse subjects, including plants, animals, beauty products, concrete, and cement. However, furthermore, particularly in recent aquaphotomics-oriented scientific fields, effectively categorizing theses datasets using diverse system-based methodologies is essential. Aquaphotomics, a subfield of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), has been extensively explored to investigate water-related spectral properties. However, research integrating AI-driven analytical techniques, particularly for human-related datasets, remains limited. In the fields related to aquaphotomics, to date, little to no research has been conducted on utilizing AI including Large language Models (LLM)-based technologies to process and analyze multiple datasets from human subjects. This study seeks to bridge this gap by employing Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)- 4o to process and interpret aquaphotomics data, thereby facilitating more effective and comprehensive clustering into moisture content variations in human skin. Specifically, we divide subjects into four groups based on their skin moisture content and the ratio of epidermal water loss datasets. We then ask, based on the subjects’ basic information, skin care habits, and lifestyle information concerning exercise, sleep, etc., “Which group should we predict that any given, new subject will belong to?” and “What is the probability that those predictions are correct?” We also specify the process of making those predictions. By presenting this set of analytical data in numerical form to both the user and the esthetic salon, we hope that both the user and the esthetic salon will be able to make informed and satisfactory decisions regarding skin care routines, etc. This includes selecting appropriate serums and supplements, which should improve both the accuracy and effectiveness of skin care choices. In the long term, we anticipate that this research will contribute to the development of generative AI applications in skin care science, which is still evolving.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) typically starts in infancy and early childhood. The chronic skin disorder is associated with recurrent flares, pruritus, and genetic predisposition. Daily use of moisturizers that contain lipids, such as ceramides, reduces the rate of AD flares and the need for topical steroid treatment. We aimed to provide insights on AD attenuation to tailor AD prescription therapy, skin care, and maintenance treatment to improve pediatric patients with AD and families. A panel of 6 pediatric dermatologists and dermatologists who treat neonates, infants, and children developed a consensus paper on AD attenuation for pediatric patients. The modified Delphi process comprised a face-to-face panel meeting and online follow-up to discuss the systematic literature search results and draw from clinical experience and opinion of the panel to adopt and agree on 5 statements.  Results: Understanding the functional properties of newborn and infant skin, discussing skincare product use with parents, and recommending tailored prescription and skincare routines can improve newborn, infant, and children’s skin health. Studies on the prophylactic application of moisturizers initiated in early infancy suggest moisturizers may delay rather than prevent AD, especially in high-risk populations and when used continuously. Increasingly there is evidence that moisturizer application reduces the severity of AD and extends the time to flares, which may help attenuate the atopic march. The protective effect of skin care for AD has been observed in studies where its daily use is ongoing; these beneficial effects may be lost in less than 1year after cessation. It is therefore important to emphasize that skin care should be routinely used when counseling patients and caregivers.  Conclusion: Healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes in atopic-prone infants and children by providing instructions regarding the daily benefits of applying skin care with gentle cleansers and moisturizers. Using gentle cleansers and moisturizers containing barrier lipids from birth onward may delay AD occurrence and mitigate severity in predisposed infants.J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(3): doi:10.36849/JDD.7894.

Developed methods for routine analysis of medicines should be considered in terms of analytical efficiency, economic cost, as well as their environmental impact. Different chromatographic methods for the routine quantitative analysis of hederacoside C in ivy leaf extract and its original dosage forms (capsules and syrup) are developed. The performance of HPLC and UPLC methods should be done using ACE C18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) and ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) columns, respectively, and both of them require a mixture of water and acetonitrile in the ratio 71/29 as a mobile phase. The HPTLC procedure is carried out using the stationary phase pre-coated silica gel 60 F254 glass sheets and a mixture of anhydrous formic acid/acetone/methanol/ethyl acetate (4:20:20:30 v/v). The most suitable conditions of preparation for each sample are established, for instance, the solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the analysis of syrup is applied. Analytical methods are compered by analytical accuracy, calculation of expenses, and assessment of their influence on ecology. All methods are recognized as accurate, precise, and reliable. However, the assessment of the environmental impact shows that HPTLC is the less green method. On the another hand, it is found to be the cheapest, the costs of performing HPTLC are 2.3 and 1.6 times lower than for HPLC and UPLC, respectively.

Increased awareness of nature preservation has encouraged the introduction of the green analytical chemistry (GAC) practice concepts concerning several important aspects, including sustainable development, environmental impact, and minimum waste. The aim of this research was to contribute to the implementation of this approach for the pharmaceutical industry while retaining the crucial aspects and strict requirements of quality control of medicines. Therefore, an ethanolbased, green and robust high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of related substances of amlodipine (AML) in film-coated tablets was developed and optimized using the Design of Experiments (DoE). The chromatographic separation was performed on an RP-select B column (250 x 4.0 mm, 5 mm), using a mixture of 0.04 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate (pH 4.0) and ethanol (60:40 % v/v) as a mobile phase. The optimized conditions provided the separation of two specified impurities (impurity D and impurity F). The selectivity of the method was confirmed using forced degradation studies. The Analytical Eco-scale approach and AGREE metrics confirmed that the method conforms to the GAC principles. The validated method was successfully applied for the determination of related substances in three samples from the market, demonstrating the applicability of the method in routine analysis.

Skin care in nursing: A critical discussion of nursing practice and research

Hydrogel films based on gelatin, glutaraldehyde and glycerol are widely reported in many studies with applications focused on food packaging, microencapsulation and release of active drugs. Thus, this study used this composition to produce hydrogel films and brought as a novelty the incorporation of tannic acid (TA) as anti-aging active, due to its great antioxidant capacity. The presence of TA in the hydrogel films was verified by the C-O stretch absorption band at 1020 cm-1, as well as by its thermal degradation between 200 and 300 ºC. Furthermore, the presence of this active compound, which influenced the physical, morphological and mechanical properties of the film, was also confirmed by qualitative release tests. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the HT2 hydrogel film showed acceptable values of elongation at break (28.9 ± 3.1%) and Young modulus (6.4 ± 1.1 MPa), suggesting that this film has the potential to be applied in skin care routines.

Background/Objectives: Unceasing exposure of skin and its microbiome to various external and internal factors influences its health. Any imbalance ensuing may result in dysbiosis and consequently skin diseases. Thus, it becomes critical to identify and recognize the influence of several factors on the skin microbiome and various disorders associated with it. Methods: In the current investigation, we studied the skin microbiomes of 37 subjects using the next-generation shotgun sequencing method and compared them with 48 healthy subjects from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). This work focused on the analysis of the impact of different skin care routines—use of sunscreen and moisturizers—on the skin microbiome and related skin diseases. Results: Differences were observed between the microbiomes of subjects who were using only moisturizer (p = 3.1 × 10−5) or moisturizer with sunscreen (p = 3.2 × 10−13) and those who did not use these products at all. We also observed differences in the skin microbiomes of males vs. females with respect to the use of moisturizer. The composition of the skin microbiomes of female participants showed a higher difference in diversity in comparison to males. The current investigation also found that usage of sunscreen might help in retaining skin-protecting species in the skin microbiome. Conclusions: This work allowed us to understand the impact of moisturizer and sunscreen on skin health. The present evaluation shall pave the way for personalized skin care product development.

The largest organ of the human body is the skin with its ~2 m2 surface area that envelopes the whole organism defining its physical border and which most importantly provides a barrier against internal organ dehydration and external penetration of noxious substances. The critical importance of the skin barrier is appreciated when it is lost such as in skin burns or compromised such as in atopic dermatitis, affecting the overall wellbeing of the individual. Moreover, it has been shown that the skin barrier function undergoes a maturation process during the first years of life. It is therefore of interest to identify skin care routines such as washing and bathing that would not be damaging to the skin barrier and if possible enhancing its protection. Furthermore, barrier enhancement aids in the prevention and treatment of certain conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Recent scientific discoveries in skin biology and formulation science have advanced the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that control skin barrier homeostasis as well as our knowledge of skin-product interactions. Application of this knowledge has led to the design of appropriate skin care products and the design of tests that can demonstrate barrier-related benefits. This special issue of the Dermatology Research and Practice addresses these issues. The paper by L. Telofski et al. titled “The infant skin barrier: can we preserve, protect, and enhance the barrier?” provides an introduction to the recent findings on skin barrier maturation after birth that lasts for the first few years of life. The authors present on healthy skin barrier development as well as problems that can arise during infancy related to abnormal skin conditions and barrier integrity. They then discuss appropriate cleansing routines that should respect the distinct nature of infant skin and the use of emollients to protect and enhance the infant skin barrier function. In the paper titled “Management of patients with atopic dermatitis: the role of emollient therapy” by M. Mack Correa and J. Nebus, the authors discuss in more detail the use of emollients as baseline support therapy to the use of corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. Prevention strategies are also presented and include appropriate skin care routines, avoiding allergic triggers, and regular use of emollients to improve the skin barrier function. Y. Valdman-Grinshpoun et al. present the dermatologist's point of view in treating and managing atopic dermatitis in their contribution titled “Barrier-restoring therapies in atopic dermatitis: current approaches and future perspectives.” This paper makes the link between skin barrier dysfunction and atopic dermatitis. It goes on to discuss the importance of skin barrier therapy approaches for its management including the use of corticosteroids and immunomodulators, as well as the potential requirement of short-term topical or systemic use of antibiotics in cases of infected lesions. Another barrier-related disease, contact dermatitis, is reviewed in the paper by Y. Yoshihisa and T. Shimizu titled “Metal allergy and systemic contact dermatitis: an overview.” Known metals common in our environment, such as nickel, cobalt, zinc, and chromium can result in allergic contact dermatitis. The authors present in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests of metal sensitivity. Other aspects of skin barrier protection are covered by the following two papers: “Cleansing formulations that respect skin barrier integrity” by R. Walters et al. and “Methods to assess the protective efficacy of emollients against climatic and chemical aggressors” by R. Roure et al. The former presents information about innovations in mild surfactant technologies used in cleansing products. As cleansing is an everyday activity that brings these products in contact with the skin, it is important to understand what makes a surfactant potentially aggressive to the lipids of the stratum corneum that provide a large part of the skin's barrier function. The use of hydrophobically modified polymers as surfactants in skin cleansing products is being introduced to enhance the stability and size of micelles and therefore the mildness to the skin. The latter mentioned paper deals with in vivo skin protocols that are being used to assess the protective action of emollients on the skin. Such models simulate skin exposure to cold wind or to an irritant such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Data are then presented to demonstrate how these investigative methods can be used to show how exposures can impact skin barrier and skin protection. Georgios N. Stamatas Alex Zvulunov Paul Horowitz Gary L. Grove

When the risks outweigh the benefits

The Arabian region has been a trailblazer in the use of plants and herbs for skincare, a practice that has been around for centuries. Indigenous plants and herbs have historically played significant roles in various skincare routines in Arabian culture, for both treatment as well as aesthetic purposes. The aim of this narrative review was to explore the traditional plant and herb-based methods used by Arabian people to treat dark spots and lighten the skin for aesthetic purposes and compare the presumed functions of these plants and herbs to the scientifically verified functions of the same plants and herbs. Literature search was conducted following which a list of plants and herbs traditionally used by Arabian people to treat various skin issues was retrieved. The scientific names of these plants and herbs were searched for, with which the functions of the identified plants were ascertained via the European Commission Cosmetic Ingredients (CosIng) database. Findings revealed that most of the plants and herbs reported to be used for traditional dark spot treatment, skin lightening and other skin care uses were confirmed to have active skin care functions. Majority of the plants and herbs that have been traditionally utilized for skincare by Arabian people possess one form or another of useful phytochemicals that can be applied in a wide variety of skincare improvement routines and the treatment of a myriad of skin conditions today. Although not necessarily skin lightening, important skin lightening adjunct functions include the roles of skin conditioning, tonic and astringent. While further scientific research is recommended to ascertain their mechanisms of action and efficacy, the integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary dermatologic research may unveil novel insights into the formulation of depigmenting or brightening skincare products that could also benefit a broader population.

A novel HPTLC analytical technique and validation study were developed to determine the concentration of ximenynic acid (XMA) in semisolid dosage formulations (SDF) such as cream, gel, lotion, etc. The procedure makes use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This study presents the first report of sensitive, selective, precise and robust HPTLC method, which has been developed and validated for quantification of the XMA from pharmaceutical formulation. The chromatographic development was carried out on HPTLC plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254 using a mixture of Toluene: Ethyl Acetate: Methanol: Formic acid (5:4:0.5:0.5 v/v/v/v) as mobile phase. Detection was carried out densitometrically at 254 nm. The Rf value of XMA were found at Rf about 0.3 ± 0.01. The method was validated as per ICH guideline with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness etc. The method is new, simple and economic for routine estimation of XMA in bulk, preformulation studies and pharmaceutical formulation to help the industries as well as researchers for their sensitive determination of XMA rapidly at low cost in routine analysis. Because XMA has the potential to be a game-changing method of treating ageing, its advancement may benefit the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors. Ximenynic acid; Skin Care Medicinal Formulation; HPTLC; Validation

This chapter describes the methods for pre-analytical processing and biobanking of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. There is increasing knowledge that pre-analytical procedures and storage conditions can influence biomarker results, which is relevant to all kinds of fluids and thus also biomarkers measured in CSF. The pre-analytical phase includes patient-related factors, such as fasting, as well as processing factors, such as delay between collection and processing, type of tube, or number of transfers of the fluid. As for the processing factors, a distinction can be made whether analysis is performed for routine care or research purposes, which mostly affects the storage time and storage temperatures. For example, routine analysis usually implies storage of days to weeks at −20 °C or 4 °C, while research analysis usually implies storage for years at −80 °C. The presented protocol is based on previously published protocols for CSF collection and long-term biobanking in the context of biomarker development or research, with adaptations based on experimental evidence collected over time.

Simultaneous estimation of prasugrel and aspirin in bulk drugs by chemometric methods

Metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer presents a significant clinical challenge, with Enzalutamide—an androgen receptor inhibitor—serving as a standard therapeutic agent. Despite its efficacy, poor aqueous solubility (Biopharmaceutics classification system Class II) limits its bioavailability, necessitating advanced formulation strategies. This study reports a robust and validated Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP‐HPLC) method for quantifying enzalutamide in bulk and eutectic formulations. A Quality by Design framework employing a Box–Behnken design was used to optimize chromatographic parameters: 60% acetonitrile, 1 mL/min flow rate, 30°C column temperature, and 234 nm detection wavelength. The method exhibited strong linearity (2–12 µg/mL, r 2 = 0.9985) with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 0.464 and 1.40 µg/mL, respectively. Validation per International Council for Harmonisation Q2 (R1/R2) confirmed accuracy, precision, robustness, and system suitability. Forced degradation studies verified its stability‐indicating capability. Eutectic mixtures with succinic acid, caffeine, and ferulic acid were prepared via liquid‐assisted grinding and characterized using powder x‐ray diffraction, confirming crystalline eutectic formation. Recovery ranged from 96.7% to 99.8%, supporting the method's applicability in routine analysis and formulation development. Greenness evaluation using various tools confirmed the method's low environmental impact and high operational feasibility. This validated RP‐HPLC method enables reliable quantification of enzalutamide, supporting the development of novel bioavailability‐enhancing formulations for effective prostate cancer management.