Abstract
Compared to normal, diabetic skin is characterized by great sensitivity. Oxidative stress is directly involved, contributing to accelerated skin aging, xerodermia and poor wound healing. In the last 10 years, cigarette smoke (CS) exposure has been associated with several skin and dermatological conditions and is directly related to the oxidative stress affecting the skin. However, limited data exist concerning the effect of CS on diabetic skin. Some of the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on the skin of hairless diabetic mice were hereby studied and the potential skin protection by topical applications of Pinus halepensis bark extract was investigated. Female hairless SKH-2 diabetic mice were exposed for 8 days to tobacco smoke and topical applications were performed twice daily. Biophysical parameters such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity and erythema were measured. In addition, the oxidative stress was evaluated. The results show that diabetes and CS have a synergistic negative action on skin condition, with the development of xerosis and high ROS levels whilst topical applications of Pinus halepensis bark extract protect efficiently the toxic effect of CS on skin, by decreasing skin dryness, oxidative stress and blood glucose levels.
Highlights
Tobacco was responsible for more than 100 million deaths worldwide in the 20th Century
Xerodermia was observed on day 8 on diabetic smoked mice, whereas in control group, no skin dryness was observable after the same period of time
The group treated with Pinus halepensis bark extract showed less intense aging signs compared to non treated animals
Summary
Tobacco was responsible for more than 100 million deaths worldwide in the 20th Century. The World Health Organization has estimated that, if current trends continue, tobacco could cause a billion deaths in the 21st Century [1]. The skin constitutes the first barrier against environmental aggression and is in direct contact with CS. CS is the result of sidestream and mainstream CS released into ambient air by the actively smoking individuals and contains over 4600 compounds both in gaseous and particulate state that are able to induce oxidative stress to cells. There is considerable evidence showing that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key contributors to the deleterious effects of CS on skin by increasing oxidant free radicals activity. Tobacco smoke toxins are known to have a detrimental effect on collagen and elastin integrity and to decrease the microcirculation [9]-[11]
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