Support for dermatological research in Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from African hair and skin research programs.

Background: The structure and physiology of skin and hair in people of African ancestry are different from other ethnic categories and studies from other continents cannot necessarily be extrapolated to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to the differences in genetics, lifestyle, climate, cultures, and hair and skin care practices. The aim of this report is to highlight the recent advances in local skin and hair research in SSA from a grant program.

Methods: African Hair and Skin Research Grants from an industrial sponsor were awarded between 2013 and 2022 on five main topics: acne, hair and scalp, keloid scars, atopic dermatitis, and air pollution.

Combining the use of two non-invasive instruments to confirm that a formula can improve skin luminance while respecting constitutive melanogenesis.

Introduction: Skin radiance products achieve perceivable benefits with different sort of mechanism of action.

Aims: To use two non-invasive instrumental devices to evaluate the effectiveness of a cosmetic formula designed to improve skin reflectance while respecting skin integrity.

Patients And Methods: Subjects (N = 43) aged 18-50 years old had healthy skin of phototype V-VI and Individual Typology Angle between -10° and -50°.

Advances in dermatology in sub-Saharan Africa in the past 20 years from workshops to the birth of the African Society of Dermatology and Venereology.

Background: Highly pigmented African skin and hair have distinct characteristics because of their unique physiology and structure. Twenty years ago, despite an increasing number of dermatology specialists in some African countries, there remained a paucity of collaborative research and workshops on African hair and skin, and there was a need for an inclusive African society to represent dermatologists from all English and French-speaking countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We documented significant research advances between 2000 and 2021 on African hair and skin physiology, as well as clinical dermatology, in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sun Exposure and Black Skin.

Black skin, compared with white skin, is generally assumed to be more resistant to the consequences of sun exposure due to its epidermal melanin content. However, recent scientific evidence shows that black skin is not completely impervious to sunlight. Both clinical and -experimental data have reported sun-induced effects on black skin.

Long-Term Benefits of Daily Photo-Protection With a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen in United States Hispanic Female Population.

aThe Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA bDepartment of Dermatology, Howard University, Washington, DC cL’Oreal Research and Innovation, Paris, France dL’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ.

Photoaging and Photoprotection in United States Hispanic Population.

Photoaging is a complex and chronic process that induces structural and functional changes in sun-exposed skin, including coarse wrinkles, laxity, dyschromia, telangiectasias, and potential precancerous lesions. Pigmented skin presents different structure and physiology that contribute to distinctive photoaging process. The skin of color population is reported to “age better” than their Caucasian counterparts in general, with fewer wrinkles and better skin texture.

A randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of two sunscreen formulations on Indian skin types IV and V with pigmentation irregularities.

Background: Regular exposure to ultraviolet rays is high in India, where most Indians present Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV and V.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and compare the effectiveness of two sunscreen products on Indian skin types IV and V with pigmentation irregularities.

Methods: A randomized, uncontrolled and investigator-blinded, single-center study enrolled adult men and women (18-45 years) with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV (28° < individual typological angle <10°) and V (10° < individual typological angle < -30°) with pigmentary abnormalities seen on the face in adults (actinic lentigines and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation), who did not use sunscreens.

Impact of dermatologic adverse events induced by targeted therapies on quality of life.

Background: Investigations about the impact of dermatologic adverse events on quality of life in the context of targeted therapies are quite recent and results vary in some dimensions. This article aims to summarize the existing data and to clarify needs in terms of clinical management and future research.

Methods: A literature review was done with Pubmed, Medline, Scopus and PsycInfo databases and it combined the empirical studies published in English and in French over the past ten years.

Impact of Skin Toxicities Associated with Targeted Cancer Therapies on Body Image: A Prospective Study.

Background And Objective: Body-image issues associated with dermatological side effects induced by anticancer-targeted therapies have not been specifically explored until now despite growing literature about their impact on quality of life. Prospective and longitudinal investigations were needed. The aim of our study was to describe body-image changes occurring with cutaneous toxicities and their psychosocial impact on patients.

Nail toxicities induced by systemic anticancer treatments.

Patients treated with systemic anticancer drugs often show changes to their nails, which are usually well tolerated and disappear on cessation of treatment. However, some nail toxicities can cause pain and functional impairment and thus substantially affect a patient's quality of life, especially if they are given taxanes or EGFR inhibitors. These nail toxicities can affect both the nail plate and bed, and might present as melanonychia, leukonychia, onycholysis, onychomadesis, Beau's lines, or onychorrhexis, as frequently noted with conventional chemotherapies.

New insights in photoaging, UVA induced damage and skin types.

UVA radiation is the most prevalent component of solar UV radiation; it deeply penetrates into the skin and induces profound alterations of the dermal connective tissue. In recent years, the detrimental effects of UVA radiation were more precisely demonstrated at cellular and molecular levels, using adequate methods to identify biological targets of UVA radiation and the resulting cascade impairment of cell functions and tissue degradation. In particular gene expression studies recently revealed that UVA radiation induces modulation of several genes confirming the high sensitivity of dermal fibroblasts to UVA radiation.

[Impact of cutaneous toxicities associated with targeted therapies on quality of life. Results of a longitudinal exploratory study].

Targeted therapies represent a promising option in cancer treatment, which have shown tumor control and patients survival benefits. But these drugs have systemic side effects, in particular frequent and various cutaneous effects. Few data have been published about the impact of these symptoms on patients' quality of life, particularly for psychological and social aspects.

Skin cancer in skin of color: an update on current facts, trends, and misconceptions.

For many fair-skinned individuals around the world, skin cancer is the leading malignancy. Although skin cancer comprises only 1% to 2% of all malignancies in those with darker complexions, the mortality rates in this subgroup are substantially higher when compared with their Caucasian counterparts. This discrepancy is largely as a result of delayed detection/treatment, and a false perception among patient and physician that brown skin confers complete protection against skin cancer.

Determination of Melanin and Haemoglobin in the Skin of Idiopathic Cutaneous Hyperchromia of the Orbital region (ICHOR): A Study of Indian Patients.

Background: Idiopathic cutaneous hyperchromia at the orbital region (ICHOR) is a cutaneous hyperchromia characterised by bilateral darkening of the eyelid and orbital skin that contrasts with the adjoining facial skin. ICHOR is frequent in dark skin. It interferes with the face appearance which often causes difficulties in societal acceptance and may impact quality of life.

Cutaneous solar ultraviolet exposure and clinical aspects of photodamage.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the earth is a combination of UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) wavelengths. Since UVA is less energetic than UVB, UVB has long been thought to be the factor responsible for the damaging effects of solar radiation. But with modern tools such as in vitro models, it has been proven that UVA plays a major role.

Proteomic analysis identifies new biomarkers for postmenopausal and dry skin.

A proteomic analysis of stratum corneum (SC) samples of normal healthy skin revealed the presence of more than 70 proteins by 2D electrophoresis. The majority of these proteins to our knowledge have not yet been described in normal SC. We analysed by Western blot the levels of 25 proteins in the SC taken from postmenopausal and dry skin compared with young and normal skin, respectively.

The use of hydroxy acids on the skin: characteristics of C8-lipohydroxy acid.

The hydroxy acids are widely used in skin creams because of their exfoliating and rejuvenating effect on photoaged skin. As a member of this family, the salicylic acid derivative known in the literature as 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid or beta-lipohydroxy acid has also been proposed as an exfoliant and as a treatment of photoaged skin and acne. This article reviews the effects of the hydroxy acids and compares them to those of the salicylic acid derivative.