Advancements in non-invasive skin sampling: Clinical conditions characterization via the assessment of skin surface cytokine biomarkers.

The skin is increasingly recognized as a biological active organ interacting with the immune system. Given that the epidermal skin layer actively releases various cytokines, non-invasive skin sampling methods could detect these cytokines, offering insights into clinical conditions. This study aims non-invasively measuring cytokine levels directly from the skin surface to characterize different inflammatory chronic disorders in the adult and elderly population: psoriasis, diabetes type 2, rosacea, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and aging.

Cutaneous Nrf2-Keap1 pathway modulation by environmental factors: The Dead Sea area as a test case.

The skin is constantly exposed to exogenous environmental stressors and has to cope with excessive oxidative stress and tissue damage. However, exposure to moderate environmental stressors may be beneficial for the cutaneous tissue and assist in protecting against oxidative damage via the enhanced activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2-Keap1) pathway. Such moderate stressors can be found in various locations around the globe.

Dead Sea minerals: New findings on skin and the biology beyond.

Background: Therapeutic effects of Dead Sea (DS) minerals are well established, and their unique combination is analysed and reported. DS water (DSW) is a key source for DS minerals, and various studies report the capability of DSW to alleviate symptoms of different skin disorders and to contribute to skin maintenance. However, the biological mechanisms beyond reported effects are not fully understood yet.

Safety evaluation of traces of nickel and chrome in cosmetics: The case of Dead Sea mud.

Background: Metal impurities such as nickel and chrome are present in natural ingredients-containing cosmetic products. These traces are unavoidable due to the ubiquitous nature of these elements. Dead Sea mud is a popular natural ingredient of cosmetic products in which nickel and chrome residues are likely to occur.

Non-invasive skin biomarkers quantification of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis: cytokines, antioxidants and psoriatic skin auto-fluorescence.

Background: Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are challenging to treat due to the absence of suitable monitoring procedure and their recurrences. Alteration of skin hydrophilic biomarkers (SHB) and structural elements occur in both disorders and may possess a distinct profile for each clinical condition.

Objective: To quantify skin cytokines and antioxidants non-invasively in psoriatic and in AD patients and to evaluate skin auto-fluorescence in psoriatic patients.

Noninvasive skin measurements to monitor chronic renal failure pathogenesis.

Background/aims: Cutaneous manifestations are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Associated with uremia, pruritus is a frequently observed symptom in CRF patients and increases with deteriorating renal function. Skin hydrophilic biomarkers (SHB) may be altered in CRF compared to healthy controls.