Desquamation Index Research Articles

A new topical biotechnological phytocomplex for truncal mild-moderate acne restores skin microbiota balance.

The disruption of the microbial community or dysbiosis alters the functional composition, metabolic activity, and local distribution of the microbiota leading the development of acne. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a lotion containing a biotechnological phytocomplex, niacinamide, and succinic acid in the bacterial diversity of subjects with truncal mild-moderate acne and its clinical benefits due to microbiota changes. Open, clinical study in 43 subjects with truncal mild-moderate acne treated with a lotion for 8weeks. Bacterial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of skin samples. Clinical effects were evaluated through IGA acne severity scale, biometric measurements, and safety. After 56 days of product's use, an increase in richness alpha diversity was found (p=0.005), with a decrease in Cutibacterium acnes relative abundance (66.43%vs. 58.11%, p=0.009). The clinical results showed a decrease in IGA score (27.59% decrease; p=0.001), the inflammatory lesions (52.12% decrease, p=0.006) and erythema (18.33% decrease, p=0.007), and desquamation index (63.83% decrease, p=0.02). The responder analysis of the IGA score showed that 60.47% of patients improved by at least one point at day 56. The product was well tolerated along the study. The use of the lotion on acneic skin was effective on rebalancing the microbiota, inhibiting biofilm formation and other virulence factors, reducing erythema and desquamation, and improving acne's severity.

The Use of Urea Cream for Hand Eczema and Urea Foam for Seborrheic Dermatitis and Psoriasiform Dermatoses of the Scalp.

Urea as an ingredient in topical skin applications can aid skin integrity and hydration and have keratolytic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-pruritic effects. Skin conditions that urea-containing formulations have been utilized to treat include hand eczema/dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasiform dermatoses of the scalp. Two monocentric, simple blind, observational studies were carried out in healthy participants to examine the efficacy and safety of two urea-containing products in these skin conditions. Study 1 tested the actions of a commercially available 30% urea topical cream on hand eczema. The product was applied ≥2/day for 28 ±2 days. Transepidermal water loss, skin redness, skin hydration, and participant ratings of efficacy and qualities were assessed prior to first product application and on days 14 and 29. Study 2 tested the actions of a commercially available foaming product containing 10% urea on seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasiform dermatoses. The product was applied ≥2/day for 28 ±2 days. Desquamation index and surface occupied by squames, analysis of extracted squames, microscopic assessment of scalp photos and participant ratings of product efficacy and qualities was carried out prior to first product application and on days 14 and 29. In Study 1 (n = 20 females), results showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in transepidermal water loss, with an increase in hydration level of the upper skin layers, and a decrease in skin redness. In Study 2 (n = 13 females, 7 males), product use led to significant (p < 0.05) decreases in desquamation measures and dryness. In both studies, the majority of participants "agreed" or "slightly agreed" that the product had good efficacy and was easy to apply. No adverse reactions were reported. These findings point to the utility of urea in topically applied vehicles for hand eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasiform dermatoses.

A pilot study evaluating the efficacy and safety of retinaldehyde-loaded niosomes against mild-to-moderate acne.

Retinoids are the mainstay of topical therapy for acne. To improve the efficacy and minimize the side effects of retinoids, various novel drug delivery mechanisms, including nanoparticles, have been developed. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a retinaldehyde-loaded niosome (RA-N) nanoemulsion against sebum secretion and keratinization on mild-to-moderate acne. Twenty-three participants exhibiting mild-to-moderate acne with both closed and open comedones were included. They applied a 0.05% RA-N nanoemulsion daily for 4weeks, did not to use any other emollient or topical pharmaceutical, and were asked to report any symptoms and treatment satisfaction. The participants demonstrated significantly fewer closed and open comedones after 2 and 4weeks of treatment than at baseline (*p<0.05). The mean sebum secretion, measured using Sebumeter®, was 327.95±90.20μgcm-2 at baseline and reduced to 282.60±99.70 and 250.65±97.6μgcm-2 , respectively, after 2 and 4weeks of treatment (*p<0.05). The mean desquamation index, determined using Visioscan®, was 10.99±1.69 at baseline and decreased to 9.81±1.10 and 8.89±1.32, respectively, after 2 and 4weeks of treatment (*p<0.05). The application of the RA-N nanoemulsion resulted in a significantly lower desquamation level, suggesting that the RA-N nanoemulsion was well-tolerated without any skin irritation. None of the participants reported a serious adverse event during this study. Our findings suggest that the RA-N nanoemulsion was effective in improving comedones in acne-prone skin and safe for long-term application. Further studies are necessary to investigate the long-term effects of the application of the RA-N nanoemulsion in participants with inflammatory acne and acne scars.

Synergistic effects of using novel home-use 660- and 850-nm light-emitting diode mask in combination with hyaluronic acid ampoule on photoaged Asian skin: A prospective, controlled study.

Recently, light-emitting diode (LED) devices are among those mostly preferred for esthetic application because they improve the appearance of photoaged skin characterized by wrinkles, sagginess, pigmented lesions, and others. In addition, the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for skin rejuvenation is already well proven. This study aims to evaluate the synergistic effects of using home-use LED mask device with HA ampoule. The total number of recruited subjects was 48:24 in Group A treated with both home-use LED mask device and HA ampoule and 24 in Group B treated with HA ampoule only, for 4weeks. To assess the efficacy of the treatment, the following were used: Antera 3D CS, EOS 800D with Image-Pro Plus, DUB-USB, VisioFace Quick, and Visioscan VC98. After treatment, the volume measurement (mm3 ) for prejowl sulci and nasolabial fold flattening as well as the area measurement (pixel) for lower chin firmness improvement was significantly reduced, and the number of pores (ea) for enlarged pores as well as the desquamation index (%) for the amount of corneocytes significantly decreased in both Group A and Group B. Moreover, the percentage of skin density significantly improved. Furthermore, Group A showed a significantly faster and higher rate of improvement than Group B. The use of 660- and 850-nm home-use LED mask device can generate synergistic effects on home-use topical applications like HA on photoaged face, and such device can be safely and efficiently used daily in personal environments.

New Cosmetic Formulation for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Infantile Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic cutaneous inflammatory disorder, characterized by skin barrier disruption. Dermacare is a new cosmetic formulation, which enhances moisturization, reinforces and repairs the skin barrier, and prevents cutaneous microbiota imbalance. To demonstrate its safety and efficacy, a prospective, open-label, and multicenter study was carried out on patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), clinical severity, Desquamation Index, Patient/Investigator Global Assessments, quality of life index, and tolerance were assessed. Adverse events were recorded. Daily application of the new treatment was well tolerated, and adverse events were absent. After 14 days, TEWL showed a 36.7% significant decrease (p = 0.035). At the end of the 28-day treatment, the Desquamation Index showed a reduction in 70% of patients; Eczema Area and Severity Index were reduced by 70.4% (p = 0.002); and skin irritation showed a significant reduction (p = 0.024). Likewise, Patient and Investigator Global Assessments reported a significant improvement in conditions and an overall global worsening when patients restarted their normal treatment. Parent’s Index of Quality of Life Index significantly increased by 36.4% (p < 0.05) with Dermacare. In conclusion, a regular use of this new formulation can reduce the risk of relapse and extend the steroid-free treatment periods.

Effects of the myrtle essential oil on the acne skin\u2014clinical trials for Korean women

BackgroundThis study aims to clinically verify the effects of myrtle essential oil, which has non-irritation, non-toxicity, and non-sensitivity characteristics among natural materials, by applying the oil to acne skin of Korean women, with special emphasis on a development of natural substances with a high safety to relieve acne and minimize skin irritation.MethodsAfter a homogeneity test was conducted targeting 20 Korean women with acne skin, who have met the primary and the secondary clinical selection criteria, the subjects were divided into the treatment group with myrtle essential oil applied (the experimental group) and the no-treatment group with no myrtle essential oil applied (the control group) to use provided cosmetics every morning and evening for 6 weeks. To precisely check the effects of the myrtle substances, the provided cosmetics are made with only a difference in the presence or absence of added myrtle substances, leaving all other substances equal.ResultsThe acne grades significantly decreased in the experimental group with myrtle applied, with the pore index (outstanding pores, large pores, blackheads), the erythema index, the sebum index, and the desquamation index also decreased in the group. Lastly, the microorganism index decreased considerably in the experimental group, showing all evaluation indicators related to acne improved in the experimental group in a statistically significant manner. On the other hand, the acne grades a little decreased in the control group with no myrtle applied, but with no statistical significance, while the pore index (outstanding pores, large pores, blackheads), the erythema index, the sebum index, and the desquamation index rather increased to some extent. In addition, the microorganism index decreased in the control group, but with a smaller volume of changes than that in the experimental group.ConclusionThis study has clinically proved that myrtle essential oil has effects for convergence, reduction in erythema, removal of sebum and dead skin cells, and antibacterial activity on the facial skin of Korean women. Especially, this study confirmed that myrtle essential oil is a safe, skin-soothing substance effective for treating acne by showing the oil reduced the number of erythema.Trial registration-Name of the registry: Institutional Review Board of Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences-Trial registration number 1-70005239-AB-N-01-2018-KIDS-AHA043-HR-01-Date of registration: March 2, 2018.

Study on the development of wax emulsion with liquid crystal structure and its moisturizing and frictional interactions with skin

The moisturizing and frictional interactions between emulsion and skin have a significant influence on the moisturizing efficacy and sensory properties of cosmetics. To deeply understand the interactions, we developed a kind of wax emulsion with liquid crystal structure and studied their interactions with dry, semi-moist and fully-moist skin. The moisturizing interaction was studied by using skin hydration test and tape stripping analysis, and it was found that with the increasing of liquid crystal content in the emulsion, the skin hydration level increased, desquamation index decreased and number of cutaneous lines increased, suggesting the increased moisturizing effect and barrier function. The frictional interaction was studied by finger friction test, and it was found that firstly during and after the application of emulsion on skin, the frictional interaction followed the stribeck-curve rule of lubrication. Secondly, when changing the water content of the substrate skin, the frictional behavior of the whole system showed a bell-curve behavior. Both skin hydration and water amount in the interfacial film played role in the frictional interaction between emulsion and skin, and the frictional interaction mechanism between wax emulsion and finger skin with different type of skin was proposed. This was the first time to study and discuss the effect of skin moist status on the moisturizing and frictional interactions between cosmetic emulsion and skin. The findings were significant for the design of high quality personal care products.

회전 브러시를 이용한 클렌징 기기의 효과

Recently, the importance of cleansing is emphasized according to increasing use of cosmetics. Even though many cleansing devices with a rotating brush are commercially available, there are no reports about cleansing devices with rotating brushes in Korean literature. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of cleansing device with a rotating brush which was named PBRCF1201 (Amorepacific Co., Korea). 20 volunteers were enrolled in this study. Before and after use of PBRCF1201, we measured the number of black head, skin brightness, desquamation index, sebum, and the number of pores on the face and forearm. Cleansing by cleansing device with a rotating brush was shown to cleanse better than manual cleansing. In addition, the number of black heads, skin brightness, desquamation index, sebum and the number of pore were also improved after cleansing. Therefore, the cleansing device with a rotating brush appears to be an effective cleansing method without causing injury or dryness.

Objective measurements of erythema, elasticity and scale could overcome the inter- and intra-observer variations of subjective evaluations for psoriasis severity

Most conventional subjective assessments for psoriasis have inevitable inter- and intra-observer variations. We investigated the objective bioengineering parameters of color and mechanical properties which are possible substitutes of the erythema, scale, and thickness scores of psoriatic plaque. Age, gender, and Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) were noted. In addition, bioengineering parameters of color, mechanical properties, and scale were obtained. The most prominently correlated bioengineering parameters were hue (tan(-1) b*/a*), desquamation index (DI), and elasticity (R7) for PSI erythema, scale, and thickness, respectively. These parameters not only showed significant differences between lesion and control groups but also changed according to psoriasis severity scores. We also showed that brighter, scaly lesions had lower elasticity while the more erythemic lesions corresponded to a more fluid-like state. We found that three bioengineering parameters are potential candidates for an objective Psoriasis Severity Index (oPSI).

Bacterial Shedding and Desquamation from the Hands of Healthcare Workers Correlates with Skin Condition

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The outer layers of human skin are comprised of corneocytes which are constantly shed (desquamated) into the environment and replaced by fresh layers from underneath. Desquamated skin is laden with the same bacteria populating intact skin and has been documented to pose a significant risk of infection in the surgical setting. The risk of infection from bacteria shed from the hands is controlled in the surgical room through hand hygiene prior to surgery and the use of gloves. Little is known regarding the risk of infection transfer from bacteria shed from the hands in non-surgical settings. It is known that frequent handwashing often damages the skin of healthcare workers and can lead to colonization by pathogenic bacteria. The objectives of this study were to measure viable bacteria shed from the hands of healthcare workers (HCW's) in an acute care setting and determine whether levels of dispersed bacteria correlated with skin condition. METHODS: Data was collected from 3 units of an acute care hospital in Northeast, Ohio. Bacteria shed from the hands of the subjects were collected using a SAS Super 180 Microbial Air Sampler. Approximately 35 minutes after handwashing, HCW's were instructed to rub their hands in a wringing motion 15 cm above the sampler for 30 seconds while 100 L of air was collected. Airborne particles were collected onto RODAC plates containing trypticase soy agar and bacteria were quantified after incubating for 24 hours at 35°C. Skin hydration, transepidermal water loss and desquamation index were measured by standard methods. RESULTS: Bacterial dispersal and quantitative skin measurements were obtained from 86 HCW's over a 3 day period. The levels of bacteria shed from the hands of the HCW's was found to be negatively correlated to corneometer measurements (p CONCLUSIONS: The results of this hospital study demonstrate that the levels of bacteria shed from the hands of healthcare workers are influenced by the health of the individual's skin; i.e. dry skin sheds more bacteria. This increased bacterial dispersal from dry skin may increase the infection transfer risk for HCW's with poor skin condition in the acute care setting. All authors are employees of GOJO. All work was funded by GOJO. Our role in the Skin Care Science group is to understand end users skin condition and the performance / efficacy of our new products / technologies in order to help develop better products &/or position and thereby sell our hand hygiene products to professional markets like Healthcare.

Moisturizing effects of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin

Certain moisturizers can improve skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis. The effect of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin is unknown. We examined the effect of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin and compared the results with the effect of white petrolatum in a left-right comparison study. Twenty-eight patients with atopic dermatitis, with symmetrical lesions of dry skin on both forearms, were enrolled, and were instructed to apply nicotinamide cream containing 2% nicotinamide on the left forearm and white petrolatum on the right forearm, twice daily over a 4- or 8-week treatment period. Transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration were measured by instrumental devices. The amount of the stratum corneum exfoliated by tape stripping (desquamation index) was determined by an image analyzer. Nicotinamide significantly decreased transepidermal water loss, but white petrolatum did not show any significant effect. Both nicotinamide and white petrolatum increased stratum corneum hydration, but nicotinamide was significantly more effective than white petrolatum. The desquamation index was positively correlated with stratum corneum hydration at baseline and gradually increased in the nicotinamide group, but not in the white petrolatum group. Nicotinamide cream is a more effective moisturizer than white petrolatum on atopic dry skin, and may be used as a treatment adjunct in atopic dermatitis.

Characterization of the physical properties of the stratum corneum by a new tactile sensor.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The physical properties of the stratum corneum (SC) change with its water content, which is regulated by the presence of water solutes (natural moisturizing factors) and lipids in the SC, and are considered to be responsible for the induction of desquamation, skin surface roughness, and fine wrinkles. Recently a new type of tactile sensor developed for evaluating the physical properties of objects has been introduced as a simple, non-invasive method to evaluate them; because the data obtained with this sensor have not yet been characterized in detail, we compared them with other physical parameters of the skin. METHODS: A change in resonant frequency (Deltaf ) was measured under various levels of pressure applied by a tactile sensor placed on the cheeks of 29 women. We also measured high-frequency conductance that reflects the hydration state of the skin surface, water holding capacity of the SC, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin flexibility, skin elasticity, amino acid composition of the SC, and desquamation index of the SC at the same time, and evaluated the correlation between Deltaf and other physical parameters. RESULTS: The correlation between Deltaf and high-frequency conductance of the SC, and that between Deltaf and the water holding capacity of the SC were substantially high. Deltaf under high pressure was more closely correlated with the acidic amino acid ratio of the SC. Deltaf also showed a correlation with desquamation index for thickness of the SC as well as with skin elasticity, independent of the applied pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Because Deltaf determined with the tactile sensor correlated with other physical parameters specific to the properties of the SC, such as high frequency conductance of the SC, its water holding capacity, ratio of acidic amino acids, and the desquamation index for thickness, the physical properties of the SC may be adequately evaluated with the measurements of Deltaf.

Influence of Age, Anatomic Site and Race on Skin Roughness and Scaliness

Background: Variations in skin roughness and scaliness between age groups, anatomic sites and race have been assumed but minimally quantified. Objective: We quantitatively investigated skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration as a function of age, anatomic site and race (white and black). Methods: Skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration were determined in vivo by noninvasive bioengineering and image analysis techniques in 22 female subjects grouped according to age (young and aged) and race (white and black). Results: Skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration varied significantly in different anatomic areas and age groups. There was no racial variation in skin hydration between any anatomic site, nor significant differences in roughness and scaliness between races, except for the preauricular area. Skin roughness was significantly increased in the aged, compared to the young at the preauricle, volar forearm, lower back, thigh and lower leg. Older women demonstrated significantly more scaling at the preauricle than younger women. Stratum corneum hydration correlated with scaliness. No significant correlation between stratum corneum hydration and skin roughness was observed. Conclusion: Age and anatomic site but not race demonstrated a significant influence on skin roughness and scaliness. The desquamation index appears a good indicator of the status of stratum corneum hydration.