Nudging hair shedding by antidandruff shampoos. A comparison of 1% ketoconazole, 1% piroctone olamine and 1% zinc pyrithione formulations.

Hair shedding and hair thinning have been reported to be affected by dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. The present study was conducted in 150 men presenting with telogen effluvium related to androgenic alopecia associated with dandruff. They were randomly allocated to three groups receiving each one of the three shampoos in the market containing either 1% ketoconazole (KTZ), 1% piroctone olamine (PTO) or 1% zinc pyrithione (ZPT).

Skin surface patterns of xerotic legs: the flexural and accretive types.

The dry skin appearance of the legs is a common complaint in winter. We studied such a condition using a multi-pronged approach combining video recording under ultraviolet light, cyanoacrylate skin surface stripping and squamometry X. Two main distinct patterns of alteration of the skin surface were identified.

Skin-lightening products revisited.

Skin colour typology depends on the amount and location of its chromophores. Among them, eumelanins derived from 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), and phaeomelanins are of utmost importance. These biomolecules result from the multi-step enzymatic and non-enzymatic conversion of tyrosine into melanins.

Long-pulsed ruby laser-assisted hair removal in male-to-female transsexuals.

Background: Unwanted male-pattern pilosity is a heavy psychological burden and can cause distress for male-to-female transsexuals. Orchidectomy and oestrogen supplementation combined with antiandrogens fail to make hair disappear.

Aims: To study the effect of long-pulsed ruby laser treatment.

Analytic quantification of solar lentigines lightening by a 2% hydroquinone-cyclodextrin formulation.

Background: The innate melanin pigmentation of skin is modulated during lifetime by a series of factors, including ageing and chronic ultraviolet light exposure. Actinic lentigines may be of particular concern from a cosmetic point of view. Conventional hypopigmenting agents are usually deceptive.

EEMCO guidance for the efficacy assessment of antiperspirants and deodorants.

Overproduction of sweat, sweaty skin and body odours are unpleasant for many social groups. Body cleansing products are designed to combat these undesirable features of skin. In addition, antiperspirant and deodorant products are more specifically used in the underarm site by a large part of the adult population.

Deciphering the impaired cytokine cascades in chronic leg ulcers (review).

Chronic leg ulcers are typically wounds that do not heal at a normal rate. Impaired healing appears to be due to primary microvascular changes and it is aggravated by ongoing bacteria-driven vasculitis. The various cytokines identified in experimental wounds are also present in leg ulcers.

Regional variability in mottled subclinical melanoderma in the elderly.

The density in melanin chromatophores becomes heterogeneous in the epidermis during the early events of photoaging. Little is known about the regional variability in the resulting mottled skin appearance on the sun-exposed parts of the body in the elderly. The relationship between these features and the dermal atrophy related to aging is also an area ripe for study.

A multicenter randomized trial of ketoconazole 2% and zinc pyrithione 1% shampoos in severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Ketoconazole (KET) and zinc pyrithione (ZPT) are compounds active against the Malassezia spp. yeasts, which are believed to play a major role in dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. We compared the efficacy and safety of KET 2% and ZPT 1% in shampoo formulations for the alleviation of severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Subclinical speckled perifollicular melanosis of the scalp.

Based on the clinical presentation of some skin pigmentation disorders it is thought that a bicompartmental functional system exists in the epidermal melanocyte population. It corresponds to the perifollicular and interfollicular compartments, respectively. The present study was undertaken looking for the presence of such a system on scalp unaffected by pigmentary disorders.

Differential pathomechanisms of epidermal necrolytic blistering diseases.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) results from the effect of exfoliative-toxins produced by staphylococcal strains. The disease affects predominantly children, and is rare in adults. We report two cases of the adult type of SSSS.

Keratinocyte injury in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis: Simultaneous but distinct topographic expression of CD95R and calprotectin.

Keratinocyte injury in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is attributed to a dysregulation in the complex apoptotic machinery. This study was performed to investigate some aspects of the apoptotic pathomechanism involving calprotectin and the CD95 receptor (CD95R, FasR) in TEN. The expression of these two molecules corresponds to calcium-dependent and calcium-independent processes, respectively.

Proteus syndrome of the hand.

Proteus syndrome exhibits an expanded phenotype. We report a case with restricted macrodactyly and cerebriform hypertrophy of one palm. The differential diagnosis with macrodactyly and other hamartomatous overgrowth syndromes is discussed.

Assessment of topical hypopigmenting agents on solar lentigines of Asian women.

Background: So-called darkened age spots encompass distinct pathological processes. The efficacy of topical depigmenting agents is difficult to objectivate.

Objective: To assess the hypopigmenting effect of three cosmetic formulations using objective biometrological methods.

Lymecycline and minocycline in inflammatory acne: a randomized, double-blind intent-to-treat study on clinical and in vivo antibacterial efficacy.

Background: Some antibiotics represent a mainstay in acne treatment. However, studies comparing their efficacies are rare.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and in vivo antibacterial effect of lymecycline and minocycline at different dosages.

Postmenopausal aging of the sebaceous follicle: a comparison between women receiving hormone replacement therapy or not.

Background: The endocrine control of sebaceous follicles is complex in women. During aging, a decline in sebum output is often experienced. However, some women report increased seborrhea after the menopause.

Factor XIIIa-positive dendrocyte rarefaction in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, classic type.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) represents a heterogeneous group of connective tissue disorders recognized by distinct clinical, microscopic, and biochemical aspects. In particular, some histologic and ultrastructural clues have been reported in the literature. We present a novel immunohistochemical aid to the diagnosis of the most frequent type of EDS.

Skin tensile strength modulation by compressive garments in burn patients. A pilot study.

Compression therapy is frequently used to prevent hypertrophy of post-burn scars. This pilot study was performed in 6 patients to assess non-invasive changes induced in the tensile strength of the skin before any clinical improvement can be perceived. Assessments were performed using a computerized suction device delivering three 5 s cycles of 500 mbar depression.

Age- and body mass index-related changes in cutaneous shear wave velocity.

Background: The in vivo visco-elastic characteristics of skin depend on a series of physiopathological parameters. Among them, the age-related intrinsic tensile properties and the preconditioning of the tissues set under tension by the hypodermal volume might be of importance.

Aims: To revisit the influence of age and body mass on the firmness and mechanical anisotropy of the skin as determined by the velocity of the shear wave propagation.

Effect of the 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser for the treatment of keloids.

Background: Due to its potential effects on skin microcirculation and collagen metabolism, the 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser has been proposed for treating abnormal scars. Indeed, one of the main problems with keloidal scars is their disfiguring erythematous color.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of the 585 nm pulsed dye laser on the appearance of keloids.

Dermal dendritic cells in anogenital warty lesions unresponsive to an immune-response modifier.

Background: Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are responsible for a variety of proliferative epithelial lesions including anogenital condylomas. These lesions may regress during treatment with an immune-response modifier such as imiquimod. The release of specific cytokines from the monocyte-macrophage lineage induces a cascade of events abating the HPV replication.

EEMCO guidance for the in vivo assessment of skin greasiness. The EEMCO Group.

Sebaceous gland activity has four distinct components which are sebum production (a secretion rate function), storage (a volume function), surface output (a delivery rate function) and stratum corneum permeation (an influx rate function). The oily appearance of skin results from an excess of sebum excretion and spreading over the body surface and its interaction with the skin surface. A multi-pronged approach is often useful to assess skin greasiness with precision.

Immunoregulatory effector cells in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare drug-induced disease for which the pathomechanism remains poorly understood. The effector cells of epidermal injury in TEN were studied by taking skin biopsies of early lesions in 23 TEN patients and by performing immunohistochemical tests using antibodies to factor XIIIa (type I dendrocytes), L1-protein (mainly Mac 387+ monocytes and macrophages), UCLHI (mainly CD45R0+ T-memory lymphocytes), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate the cell density relative to each immunolabeling.

An appraisal of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for melanoma staging.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET scan) using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is increasingly recognized as a reliable diagnostic method to detect metastases of malignant melanoma (MM).

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of 18-FDG PET scan to that of conventional imaging.

Methods: A total of 28 assessments were conducted in 24 patients at risk of metastatic MM.

Squamometry in seborrheic dermatitis.

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis is a corticosteroid-responsive condition. Topical corticosteroids exhibit distinct activities according to the type and cellular site of action of the hormone and its vehicle. The latter influences not only drug penetration, but also the structure and function of the horny layer.