Investigating the effect of the pH of foot care product formulations on pedal skin in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.

Objective: The use of skin care formulations with acidic pHs is seen as an effective method to maintain the acidic mantel of the skin; however, because the skin pH varies depending on the area of the body and as data are lacking for the skin pH of the feet, there was a need to examine whether this assumption holds true for skin care formulations designed for the foot. Thus, three foot creams formulated with a neutral, acidic or alkaline pH were compared with each other as well as to an untreated control group in order to analyse their impact on skin pH, hydration and general skin condition.

Methods: An exploratory clinical investigation with 60 enrolled subjects, half of whom had a diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2), was undertaken.

A new dexpanthenol-containing liquid cleanser for atopic-prone skin: Results from two prospective clinical studies evaluating cutaneous tolerability, moisturization potential, and effects on barrier function.

Background: Gentle cleansing of the skin without further compromising its barrier function and moisture content and being simultaneously devoid of adverse effects on the skin microbiome are important features of body cleansers for atopic-prone skin sufferers. For this population, a new dexpanthenol-containing liquid cleanser (DCLC) was developed.

Methods: Two prospective 4-week studies have been conducted.

Pilot study to determine differences in breath odour between cigarette and e-cigarette consumers.

Cigarette smoke is known to influence breath odour, but the effect of e-cigarettes is unknown. In this pilot study, we aimed to determine differences in breath odour between cigarette smokers (CSs) and e-cigarette consumers (ECs) in 33 healthy subjects: 11 CSs, 11 ECs and 11 non-smokers (NSs). Breath was sampled at baseline and following product use (CSs and ECs) or a waiting period (NSs) by eight trained odour judges using a six-point smoke intensity scale and a nine-point hedonic scale.

A novel clinical method to measure skin staining reveals activation of skin damage pathways by cigarette smoke.

Background: Long-term use of cigarettes can result in localised staining and aging of smokers' skin. The use of tobacco heating products (THPs) and electronic cigarettes (ECs) has grown on a global scale; however, the long-term effect of these products' aerosols on consumers' skin is unknown. This pilot clinical study aimed to determine whether THP or EC aerosol exposure results in skin staining or activation of biomarkers associated with oxidative stress.

Efficacy and tolerability of a detergent and care component for rosacea patients: A split-face, vehicle-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: The treatment of facial erythema and subjective symptoms of rosacea patients remains challenging in clinical practice. Cosmeceuticals, care components containing active ingredients such as phytochemicals, play a growing role in treatment plans. However, well-designed studies on their efficacy and limitations are widely missing.

Targeted dry skin treatment using a multifunctional topical moisturizer.

Objective: The development of dry skin is a complex process, with a wide variety of factors each playing different roles in its evolution. Given this, it is important when designing a formulation to tackle dry skin that these varied aspects of skin behaviour are addressed. Presented here are the results of a 3-week moisturization study carried out on dry legs.

Non-invasive evaluation techniques to quantify the efficacy of cosmetic anti-cellulite products.

Background: The majority of women suffer from the unattractive sight of dimpling skin on the thighs and buttocks, globally known as cellulite. Cellulite can be regarded as the most investigated non-disease, because, from the cosmetic viewpoint, most women desire a reduction in cellulite severity. Despite investigations made, cellulite is still not well understood at the cellular level, which leads to controversy regarding the investigative methods for cellulite reduction as well as the development of products to treat cellulite skin.

Influence of climatic conditions on antiperspirant efficacy determined at different test areas.

Background: The efficacy of antiperspirants is a current topic among the developers of cosmetic products. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the US market, efficacy testing performed in the axilla of human volunteers is mandatory. Another method is yet available, which enables comparison of more than one antiperspirant formula in a single study by performing the test on the backs of volunteers.