Assessment Of Erythema Research Articles

33249 Novel high-emollient hand sanitizer improves skin condition without compromising antiseptic efficacy

The impact of frequent hand hygiene practices on the skin condition of health care workers has been studied extensively, however, there are little data available on normal consumer usage of hand sanitizers on skin health and the skin barrier. The objective of this research was to understand the impact to skin hydration, irritation, and barrier integrity between different marketed hand sanitizers in conjunction with normal handwashing hygiene. Participants provided informed consent to participate in a balanced, randomized, IRB-approved, double-blind 4-cell 2-week clinical study, with approximately 20 participants per cell. A new high emollient and 2 leading marketed alcohol-based hand sanitizers were included with instructions to use a minimum of 6 times daily, as well as a control cell of liquid handwash alone. The control liquid handwash was also used in each sanitizer cell to replace handwash products. Objective measurements of hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were obtained as well as expert visual assessment of dryness and erythema, and 3D imaging of texture with Antera measurements. When added to a routine of handwashing with a marketed liquid handwash, the high emollient sanitizer ameliorated the dryness evident from hand washing alone. Both handwashing alone and in combination with 2 leading marketed hand sanitizers resulted in increased skin dryness and markedly greater sensory irritation. The high-emollient sanitizer product also mitigated the damaging effects of liquid handwash, as demonstrated by TEWL. The results indicate that when deploying normal consumer hand hygiene practices, selection of hand sanitizers does matter for maintaining skin barrier health.

Botulinum Toxin A Alleviates Persistent Erythema and Flushing in Patients with Erythema Telangiectasia Rosacea.

IntroductionThe persistent erythema and flushing seen in some cases of rosacea do not respond effectively to, or may easily relapse after, oral medication or light-based therapies (laser or intense pulsed light). Intradermal botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection can be used to treat intractable erythema and flushing, but studies with large samples and long-term observation have not been conducted to determine its effectiveness and safety. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the effective duration and safety of intradermal BTX-A injection for intractable erythema and flushing.MethodsSixteen patients with rosacea with erythema telangiectasia were injected with BTX-A at 1-cm intervals between each point. Clinician Erythema Assessment (CEA) scores were obtained at baseline and 1 month after injection. Flushing assessment and survey using the Dermatological Quality of Life Index (DLQI) questionnaire were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after injection.ResultsAt 1 month after injection, CEA scores revealed significant improvements in erythema and flushing; the results of the questionnaire on flushing and DLQI indicated that the improvement of flushing usually lasted for 3–6 months, but the effect decreased significantly at 6 months, and individual patients needed another treatment.ConclusionsBTX-A significantly improves the symptoms and quality of life of patients with refractory rosacea with few adverse effects.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13555-022-00784-0.

Effectiveness of VISIA system in evaluating the severity of rosacea.

Rosacea is a facial chronic inflammatory skin disease with almost 5.5% prevalence. Although there are various scales of rosacea, they are objective and discordant among different dermatologists. Noninvasive objective measurements such as VISIA system might play essential roles in the diagnosis and evaluation of rosacea. Here, we intended to reveal the effectiveness of VISIA system in rosacea. A number of 563 participants diagnosed with facial rosacea were enrolled in study. They all received both full-face image-shoot by VISIA system with quantitative analysis software and physician's assessment via five different scales, including investigator global assessment (IGA), clinician erythema assessment (CEA), numerical score, the National Rosacea Society (NRS) grading system and telangiectasis. Absolute score and percentile of red area had significant correlations with IGA and CEA, whereas red area had no significant correlation with numerical score, NRS and telangiectasis. Red area in erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients demonstrated the highest correlation with IGA and CEA, especially in those aged between 51 and 60. Besides red area, pigmentation parameters in VISIA system (brown spot) also showed significant correlation with IGA and CEA. VISIA system might be an effective measurement in the assessment of rosacea severity.

Comparison of topical agents versus invasive agents in facial acne

The purpose of this present research was to compare the application of topical agent and invasive agent for treatment of facial acne. A total of 124 patients with mild to moderate acne entered this prospective, single-blind study comparing topical (benzoyl peroxide 5%) with invasive treatment (microneedling). There were 60 female and 64 male subjects in the present research. Reductions in the mean number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions were compared using Student's t-test, as were the mean grades for skin tolerability. The incidence of self reported adverse effects were compared using the x' test. A significant difference was noted in baseline assessment of facial erythema between the two groups (P<0.05), being greater in the microneedling group. Comparisons between the two groups showed that microneedling was significantly better than at one month (P<0.05), however benzoyl peroxide 5% was better at two months (P< 0.001), and three months (P<0.001). Microneedling was effective in removing the comedones with immediate effectiveness but the effects were not long lasting with possibility of scar formation when compared to benzoyl peroxide, who didn’t have relapses in the treatment and were cost effective as well.

A randomized, controlled trial of intense pulsed light in combination with minocycline hydrochloride for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris.

It has been a long-term debate over the concomitant treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris using intense pulsed light (IPL) and minocycline due to the photosensitivity of minocycline. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of IPL combined with minocycline in treating acne vulgaris in a randomized trial. A total of 40 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups which were either given minocycline (100mg per day) for 8weeks with IPL treatments three times at weeks 0, 4, and 8, or the same dosage of minocycline only. The evaluations for inflammatory lesion count, Investigator Global Assessment of Acne (IGA), erythema, and purpura indexes were taken before treatment and at weeks 4, 8, and 16. There were significant improvements in inflammatory lesion count, IGA scores, and purpura index in both groups as compared with the baseline at week 16 (p<0.02). The concomitant therapy, but not minocycline only, significantly improved the erythema index (p=0.40) at the 16th week as compared with the baseline. The group with combined treatment showed significantly continuous improvements in inflammatory lesion counts (p<0.04) and IGA scores (p≤0.02) at weeks 4, 8, and 16 as compared with the group given minocycline only. No severe adverse effects were observed during the trial. IPL in combination with minocycline shows a better clinical efficacy for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris than minocycline alone, and it is safe.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Improves Acne-Induced Post-inflammatory Erythema and Hyperpigmentation: A Retrospective Study in Chinese Patients.

IntroductionPost-inflammatory erythema (PIE) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) are the most common acne-related sequelae with no effective treatments. By combining different cut-off filters, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy can effectively treat these conditions with few side effects. While the safety and effectiveness of IPL for treating post-burn hyperpigmentation is well known, there is little evidence for its benefits for acne-related PIH. In this article, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of IPL for the treatment of acne-related PIE and PIH.MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated 60 patients with more than 6 months of PIE and PIH treated by the same IPL device and similar protocols. The treatment included three to seven sessions at 4–6-week intervals, and three cut-off filters (640 nm, 590 nm and 560 nm) were used sequentially in each session. Using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), and Erythema Assessment Scale (EAS), patients were evaluated on the basis of their facial photographs. The facial brown spots and red areas were visualised and analysed using the VISIA-CR system. Six months after the last treatment, the patients were assessed for acne relapse or any side effects.Please check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly processed and amend if necessary.Checked and confirmed. No further corrections.ResultsOn the basis of the GAIS, 49 of 60 patients (81.7%) showed complete or partial clearance of erythema and hyperpigmentation. The CADI and EAS scores showed significant improvement (p < 0.01) after IPL treatment compared with pre-treatment. A significant reduction (p < 0.01) in the facial brown spots and red areas was seen after IPL treatment. While no long-term side effects were reported, seven patients (11.7%) experienced acne relapse at follow-up.ConclusionIPL is an effective and safe treatment for acne-related PIE and PIH.

The Efficacy and Tolerability of Turmeric and Salicylic Acid in Psoriasis Treatment

IntroductionThis study examined the efficacy and tolerability of a once-daily regimen of a 3% salicylic acid treatment gel containing turmeric and a low concentration of salicylic acid plus shea butter exfoliating moisturizer when used as monotherapy or in as an adjunct to other Rx psoriasis medications.Patients and MethodsThis single-site 12-week study enrolled 20 subjects >18 years of age with mild-to-moderate psoriasis involving <10% body surface area. Assessments were performed at baseline and Weeks 4, 8, and 12 using a 5-point scale (0 = none to 4 = severe). The investigator-assessed efficacy (changes from baseline for erythema, desquamation, induration, and overall global assessment [IGA]) and tolerability (irritation and edema). Study subjects assessed efficacy parameters of redness, scaling, and overall skin problems along with tolerability parameters of stinging, burning, itching, and irritation. Subjects applied the turmeric and salicylic acid treatment gel along with a moisturizer once daily to all affected areas.ResultsHalf (50%) of the subjects were using concomitant Rx psoriasis treatments, while the other 50% received the study psoriasis treatment regimen as monotherapy. Investigator assessments of erythema, desquamation, induration, and IGA scores showed significant reductions from baseline (P ≤ 0.021) at Weeks 4, 8, and 12. At Week 12, these reductions reached 48%, 46%, 51%, and 48%, for these parameters, respectively. The investigator observed no irritation or edema at any time point. Subject assessments of redness, scaling, and overall improvement demonstrated significant reductions in 8 of 9 assessments (P ≤ 0.037). The subjects reported mild irritation at Weeks 4, 8, and 12. No treatment compliance issues or adverse events related to study product occurred during the study.ConclusionA once-daily over-the-counter (OTC) turmeric/salicylic acid gel followed by a shea butter/salicylic acid exfoliating moisturizer demonstrated excellent tolerability and efficacy in plaque-type psoriasis after 12 weeks of once-daily use.

Increased serum levels of CCL3, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 in rosacea patients and their correlation with disease severity.

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease involving millions of patients worldwide. Previous studies have highlighted the upregulation of a variety of chemokines in the skin lesions of both rosacea patient and rosacea-like mouse model. However, the serum levels of these chemokines and their clinical significance have not been explored before. In this study, we aimed at examining the serum levels of a series of chemokines (including CCL2, CCL3, CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12) implicated in rosacea and their correlation with disease severity. Bio-Plex Pro Human Chemokine Assays were used to measure the serum levels of these chemokines. Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) was applied for assessing the papules/pustules of rosacea patients, while persistent erythema was evaluated by the Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA). Our results revealed that the serum concentration of CCL3, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 were markedly elevated in rosacea patients compared to healthy controls. Among them, the levels of CCL3, CXCL8, and CXCL9 were positively correlated with the IGA score, while serum CXCL9 and CXCL10 were positively related with the CEA score of rosacea patients. What's more, the expression of the corresponding receptors of CCL3 (Ccr1), CXCL8 (Cxcr1 and Cxcr2), CXCL9, and CXCL10 (Cxcr3) were all significantly increased in the skin lesions of rosacea-like mouse model with CXCR2 and CXCR3 highly expressed in rosacea patient skins. Our results indicated that CCL3, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 might potentially serve as serum indicators for rosacea and could assist the severity evaluation of disease. Findings in this study would also potentially help to develop new targeted therapies for rosacea in future. © 2022 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Diurnal Preference Contributes to Maximal UVB Sensitivity by the Hour of the Day in Human Skin In Vivo

Diurnal Preference Contributes to Maximal UVB Sensitivity by the Hour of the Day in Human Skin In Vivo

Maintenance of Remission after Oral Metronidazole Add-on Therapy in Rosacea Treatment: A Retrospective, Comparative Study.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease which requires treatment to maintain remission. Recently, the effect of Demodex mites in recurrence of rosacea has been described. Although there is limited data, previous reports have suggested that oral metronidazole demonstrated efficacy in treatment of rosacea. Fifty-eight Korean patients with rosacea who received treatment with oral minocycline (50 mg twice daily) only or with two-week of oral metronidazole (250 mg thrice daily) were evaluated retrospectively. Their responses were evaluated by Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA), and patient's Global Assessment. The recurrence rate and odds ratio of risk factors for recurrence were also estimated. The combination treatment group reported earlier clinical improvement and lower mean IGA and CEA than the monotherapy group. Approximately 48% of patients with combination treatment did not show relapse within 24 weeks, which is significantly higher than that in the monotherapy group (p=0.042). Add-on therapy of oral metronidazole appeared to be a significant protective factor for recurrence of rosacea (p<0.05). This study suggests that oral metronidazole can be added to oral minocycline to reduce relapses in rosacea patients with tolerable safety.

Outdoor sunscreen testing with high-intensity solar exposure in a Chinese and Caucasian population.

BackgroundCurrently, sunscreens' sun protection factor (SPF) and ultraviolet (UV) A protection are tested separately under indoor conditions, without considering external conditions that may affect performance. Studies are often conducted in Caucasian individuals; other racial groups may respond differently.MethodsAn outdoor, double‐blind, intra‐individual study was performed in 63 healthy Chinese and Caucasian volunteers in Singapore. Subjects underwent one outdoor sun exposure lasting 2‐3 hours. ISO reference products P3 (SPF 15), P5 (SPF 30), and P8 (SPF 50+) applied at 2 mg/cm2 were compared against each other and against an untreated exposed area (positive control) and an unexposed area (negative control). Endpoints were investigator global assessment (IGA) of erythema at 24 hours, IGA of pigmentation at 1 week, and colorimetry (a*, L*, and ITA) at 24 hours and 1 week.ResultsClinical erythema and pigmentation scores were statistically significantly different among the three sunscreens, with the highest SPF product providing the highest protection, confirming the discriminatory capacity of the model used. Colorimetric assessment correlated well with clinical evaluation.ConclusionThis study confirmed the feasibility of ranking sunscreens (at 2 mg/cm2) based on clinical effects of high‐intensity outdoor solar radiation. Larger studies are needed to look at differences in erythema and pigmentation reactions between Chinese and Caucasian individuals, which could be relevant for photoprotection.

A randomized, controlled, split-face study of topical timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops for the treatment of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.

Centrofacial erythema associated with telangiectasis is the most common presentation of rosacea, known as erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR). However, successful management of these symptoms remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical timolol maleate eye drops 0.5% for ETR. In this randomized, single-center, single-blind, placebo-controlled split-face study, 16 patients with mild-to-moderate ETR who presented at West China Hospital between January 2019 to September 2020 were randomized to receive either topical timolol maleate eye drops 0.5% to one side of their face daily for 28days and normal saline to the other side of the face. Patients were assessed with both the Clinician Erythema Assessment (CEA) and Patient Self-Assessment (PSA) at the 28-day follow-up appointment. Subjective assessment was performed by asking participants to grade their sensation of warmth and burning. The sides treated with timolol demonstrated a significant improvement in both the CEA and PSA at the 28-day assessment. Patients reported a significant difference in warmth and burning sensations. The only adverse reaction was worsened redness on both sides of the face at Day 1 in one patient. In this small study, the application of topical timolol maleate was safe and effective for the treatment of ETR.

Almond Consumption Increased UVB Resistance in Healthy Asian Women

Abstract Objectives Almonds are a rich source of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, which have antioxidant activity. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that topical application of almond oil and almond skin extract reduces UVB-induced photoaging. Ultraviolet-B (UVB) protection by oral almond consumption has not been previously studied in humans. It was the objective to investigate whether oral almond consumption can increase resistance to UVB radiation and reduce skin aging in healthy Asian women. Methods Thirty-nine female participants (18–45 years) with Fitzpatrick skin type II-IV were randomly assigned to consume either 1.5 oz of almonds or 1.8 oz of pretzels daily for 12 weeks. Minimal erythema dose (MED) was determined using a standardized protocol, which determined the minimal radiation inducing erythema on the inner arm 24 hours following UVB exposure. Facial skin texture was evaluated by two dermatologists using the Clinician's Erythema Assessment scale and Allergan Roughness scale. Facial melanin index, hydration, sebum, and erythema were determined using a cutometer. Results Women who consumed almonds, experienced a significant increase in MED from 415 ± 64 to 487 ± 59 (18.7 ± 19.2%, P = 0.006) from baseline to week 12 compared to women in the pretzel group from 415 ± 67 to 421 ± 67 (1.8 ± 11.1%). The exposure time to reach minimal erythema was also increased significantly in the almond group from 160 ± 23 to 187 ± 25 (17.5 ± 22.2%) compared to the pretzel group from 165 ± 27 to 166 ± 25 (1.7 ± 14%) (p=0.026). There were no differences noted between the groups consuming almonds versus pretzels in Allergan roughness, melanin, hydration, or sebum on facial skin. Conclusions Our findings suggest that daily oral almond consumption may lead to enhanced protection from UVB photodamage by increasing the MED. Protection from other UV radiation was not tested and therefore almond consumption will not replace other methods of sun protection such as application of sunscreen or wearing protective closing. Funding Sources Almond Board of California.

Narrow-Band Reflectance Spectrophotometry for the Assessment of Erythematous and Hyperpigmented Skin Lesions in Localized Scleroderma: A Preliminary Study.

BackgroundLocalized scleroderma (LoS) is an inflammatory fibrosing disease of the connective tissue, whose esthetic sequelae are atrophic skin lesions with hyperpigmentation. The key element of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is the assessment of the disease's severity and damage. The study objective was to analyze the usefulness of narrow-band reflectance spectrophotometry (NBRS) to assess erythema and hyperpigmentation in LoS lesions.Materials and MethodsErythema indexes (EI) and melanin indexes (MI) were determined with the use of DermaLab Combo skin colour probe for LoS lesions and symmetrically located areas of normal skin. Then, relative percentage differences were determined for EI and MI, which were compared with the visual assessments of erythema and hyperpigmentation according to the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT).ResultsA total of 84 LoS lesions were studied in 41 patients. The study showed a moderate correlations between the spectrophotometric measurements and clinical assessments of erythema as well as hyperpigmentation (Spearman correlation coefficient, r), r = 0.37; p = 0.00047 and r = 0.55; p=0.0000001, respectively.ConclusionNBRS seems to be a useful tool to assess the severity of erythema and hyperpigmentation in LoS lesions. Further studies are required in order to compare the spectrophotometric results with other objective methods.

Skin erythema assessment techniques

Skin erythema may present owing to many causes. One of the common causes is prolonged exposure to sunrays. Other than sun exposure, skin erythema is an accompanying sign of dermatologic diseases, such as psoriasis and acne. Quantifying skin erythema in patients enables the dermatologist to assess the patient's skin health. Quantitative assessment of skin erythema has been the focus of several studies. The clinical standard for erythema evaluation is visual assessment; however, this standard has some deficiencies. For instance, visual assessment is subjective and ineffectual for precise color information exchange. To overcome these limitations, in the past three decades various methodologies have been developed in an attempt to achieve objective erythema assessments, such as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and both optical and nonoptical systems. This review considers the studies published during the past three decades and discusses the performance, the mathematical tactics for computation, and the limited capabilities of erythema assessment techniques for cutaneous diseases. The achievements and limitations of the current techniques in erythema assessment are presented. The advantages and development trends of optical and nonoptical methods are presented to make the reader aware of the present technological advances and their potential for dermatological disease research.

Erythema-directed digital photography and colorimeter scores correlate with rosacea erythema evaluation in patients under treatment with topical ivermectin.

Inflammatory rosacea is clinically characterized by persistent erythema and inflammatory lesions. Its severity is generally based on clinical observation that may be cumbersome. The aim of this study was to assess if erythema-directed digital photography (EEDP) and colorimeter (COL) correlate and are concordant with clinical evaluation of erythema degree of rosacea under topical treatment. Thirty naïve patients with mild/moderate inflammatory rosacea were instructed to apply ivermectin cream for 8 weeks. Erythema degree was performed at baseline, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks by clinician erythema assessment based on 5-point severity scale (from 0 = no erythema to 4 = fiery redness), and by instrumental evaluation by EDDP using the same 5-point scale of clinical assessment and by COL using a 5-point scale (from 0 = <1 units = no erythema to 4 > 12 units = fiery redness). Concordance and correlation analysis were performed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient and Correlation Coefficient test respectively. At baseline a statistically significant concordance/correlation value between EDDP and COL was observed. At 2 weeks, the statistical concordance/correlation value between instrumentals were both increased, along with a slight significant concordance between clinical assessment and erythema-directed digital photography. At 4, 6 and 8 weeks, a statistically significant increase of concordance/correlation value among all the considered parameters from baseline was found. The results of our study showed that at baseline and during the early treatment stage both EDDP and COL were able to appreciate more accurately the erythema grade compared to clinical observation supporting the use of non-invasive techniques for a more objective evaluation of erythema in rosacea.

Rosacea with persistent facial erythema and high Demodex density effectively treated with topical ivermectin alone or combined with oral carvedilol.

Topical ivermectin is effective in treating papulopustular rosacea, but its effect on persistent facial erythema of rosacea with high Demodex densities has not been well documented. We retrospectively reviewed 39 rosacea patients with persistent facial erythema and high Demodex densities. Clinician's erythema assessment (CEA) and Demodex density were evaluated before and after topical ivermectin alone or combined with oral carvedilol. Three patients (all with papulopustular rosacea, in ivermectin group) dropped out due to early ivermectin-induced local flare of rosacea. In the remaining patients (ivermectin group n = 14; ivermectin-carvedilol group n = 22), the CEA grade and Demodex density were significantly reduced, both P < .01. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in CEA before and after treatment (P = .07 and P = .23, respectively), and in Demodex density (P = .82 and .10, respectively). Both regimens markedly improved the persistent facial erythema with response being excellent in 26 of 36 patients (72%), good in 2, fair in 4 and none in 4. There was a correlation between the reduction of CEA and Demodex density after treatment (rho = 0.50, P = .002). The results showed that topical ivermectin was effective in reducing persistent facial erythema of rosacea with Demodex overgrowth.

The Efficacy and Safety of Dual-Frequency Ultrasound for Improving Skin Hydration and Erythema in Patients with Rosacea and Acne.

Inflammatory skin diseases, such as rosacea and acne, are major causes of facial erythema and accompanying skin barrier dysfunction. Several methods to restore the impaired skin barrier and improve facial erythema, such as medication, radiofrequency, laser, and ultrasound therapy were attempted. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of dual-frequency ultrasound with impulse mode, for improving skin hydration and erythema in Asian subjects with rosacea and acne. Twenty-six subjects with facial erythema received an ultrasound treatment once per week, for 4 weeks, over both cheeks. The erythema index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at each visit. Clinicians assessed the erythema improvement and patients evaluated their satisfaction level. The average decrease in TEWL and erythema index at 6 weeks was 5.37 ± 13.22 g·h−1·m−2 (p = 0.020) and 39.73 ± 44.21 (p = 0.010), respectively. The clinician’s erythema assessment and the subject satisfaction questionnaire score significantly improved at final follow-up (p < 0.001; p = 0.003, respectively). No serious adverse effects were observed during the treatment and follow-up periods. The dual-frequency ultrasound with impulse mode appears to be effective and safe for improving skin hydration and erythema in patients with rosacea and acne.

Hyperspectral imaging assessment for radiotherapy induced skin-erythema: Pilot study.

Skin cancer (SC) is a widely spread disease in the USA, Canada, and Australia. Skin cancer patients may be treated by many different techniques including radiation therapy. However, radiation therapy has side effects, which may range from skin erythema to skin necrosis. As erythema is the early evidence of exposure to radiation, monitoring erythema is important to prevent more severe reactions. Visual assessment (VA) is the gold standard for evaluating erythema. Nevertheless, VA is not ideal, since it depends on the observer's experience and skills. Digital photography and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) are optical techniques that provide an opportunity for objective assessment of erythema. Erythema indices were computed from the spectral data using Dawson's technique. The Dawson relative erythema index proved to be highly correlated (97.1 %) with clinical visual assessment scores. In addition, on the 7th session of radiation therapy, the relative erythema index differentiates with 99 % significance between irradiated and non-radiated skin regions. In this study, HSI is compared to digital photography for skin erythema statistical classification.

Almond consumption increased UVB resistance in healthy Asian women.

BackgroundAlmonds are a rich source of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, which have antioxidant activity. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that topical application of almond oil and almond skin extract reduces UVB‐induced photoaging. Ultraviolet‐B (UVB) protection by oral almond consumption has not been previously studied in humans.ObjectivesTo investigate whether oral almond consumption can increase resistance to UVB radiation and reduce skin aging in healthy Asian women.MethodsThirty‐nine female participants (18‐45 years) with Fitzpatrick skin type II‐IV were randomly assigned to consume either 1.5 oz of almonds or 1.8 oz of pretzels daily for 12 weeks. Minimal erythema dose (MED) was determined using a standardized protocol, which determined the minimal radiation needed to induce erythema on the inner arm following UVB exposure. Facial skin texture was evaluated by two dermatologists using the Clinician's Erythema Assessment scale and Allergan Roughness scale. Facial melanin index, hydration, sebum, and erythema were determined using a cutometer.ResultsThe MED was increased in the subjects consuming almonds compared to the control group consuming pretzels. There were no differences noted between the groups consuming almonds versus pretzels in Allergan roughness, melanin, hydration, or sebum on facial skin.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that daily oral almond consumption may lead to enhanced protection from UV photodamage by increasing the MED.