A randomized controlled study of 6% gabapentin topical formulation for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus.

Background: Novel agents with good safety profiles are needed in the management of chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-AP). This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of topical gabapentin in the treatment of CKD-AP.

Methods: The authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

Natural (Mineral, Vegetable, Coconut, Essential) Oils and Contact Dermatitis.

Natural oils include mineral oil with emollient, occlusive, and humectant properties and the plant-derived essential, coconut, and other vegetable oils, composed of triglycerides that microbiota lipases hydrolyze into glycerin, a potent humectant, and fatty acids (FAs) with varying physico-chemical properties. Unsaturated FAs have high linoleic acid used for synthesis of ceramide-I linoleate, a barrier lipid, but more pro-inflammatory omega-6:-3 ratios above 10:1, and their double bonds form less occlusive palisades. VCO FAs have a low linoleic acid content but shorter and saturated FAs that form a more compact palisade, more anti-inflammatory omega-6:-3 ratio of 2:1, close to 7:1 of olive oil, which disrupts the skin barrier, otherwise useful as a penetration enhancer.

The validated hypoallergenic cosmetics rating system: its 30-year evolution and effect on the prevalence of cosmetic reactions.

Background: The validated hypoallergenic (vh) rating system was initiated in 1988 to try to objectively validate the "hypoallergenic" claim in cosmetics.

Objectives: To show how the system rates cosmetic hypoallergenicity and to compare the prevalence of cosmetic contact dermatitis (CCD) among users of regular cosmetics versus cosmetics with high VH numbers.

Methods: (1) Made a VH list based on top allergens from patch-test results published by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) and the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA); (2) reviewed global regulatory, cosmetic, drug, packaging, and manufacturing practices to show how allergens may contaminate products; (3) compared cosmetic ingredients lists against the VH list to obtain the VH rating (the more allergens absent, the higher the VH rating); and (4) obtained CCD prevalence among users of regular cosmetics versus users of cosmetics with high VH ratings.

Novel antibacterial and emollient effects of coconut and virgin olive oils in adult atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) skin is dry and readily colonized by Staphylococcus aureus (SA). Coconut and olive oils are traditionally used to moisturize and treat skin infections.

Objective: To compare virgin coconut oil (VCO) and virgin olive oil (VOO) in moisturizing dryness and removing SA from colonized AD skin.

Visible light photopatch testing of common photocontactants in female filipino adults with and without melasma: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although consistently associated with sun exposure, melasma is common among sun-shy Filipino women who generally prefer to have lighter skin, use skin lighteners, regularly practice sun avoidance, and are more exposed to indoor lights.

Objective: To determine presence/absence of photocontact dermatitis in melasma/no-melasma patients using photopatch testing (PhPT) with standard photocontactants and an indoor visible light (VL) source.

Design: Cross-sectional study: random population of 40 female patients aged 30-55 years, 20 with and 20 without melasma.

Novel antibacterial activity of monolaurin compared with conventional antibiotics against organisms from skin infections: an in vitro study.

Objective: A cross-sectional laboratory study to determine the in vitro sensitivity and resistance of organisms in culture isolates from skin infections and mechanisms of action of monolaurin, a coconut lauric acid derivative, compared with 6 common antibiotics: penicillin, oxacillin, fusidic acid, mupirocin, erythromycin, and vancomycin.

Methods: Skin culture samples were taken from newborn to 18-year-old pediatric patients with primary and secondarily infected dermatoses. Samples were collected and identified following standard guidelines, then sent to the laboratory for sensitivity testing against the 6 selected antibiotics and monolaurin.

A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis.

Background: Xerosis is a common skin condition (1) characterized by dry, rough, scaly, and itchy skin, (2) associated with a defect in skin barrier function, and (3) treated with moisturizers. People in the tropics have effectively used coconut oil as a traditional moisturizer for centuries. Recently, the oil also has been shown to have skin antiseptic effects.