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C M Schempp

Publications and source records attributed to C M Schempp.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Salt water bathing prior to UVB irradiation leads to a decrease of the minimal erythema dose and an increased erythema index without affecting skin pigmentation.

The combination of salt water baths and solar radiation is known as an effective treatment for patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. To determine whether increased susceptibility to UVB radiation may contribute to this therapeutic effect we have studied the effect of bathing the skin in salt water prior to UVB irradiation. Twelve subjects were phototested on the volar aspects of their forearms with increasing doses of UVB radiation. One forearm was exposed to 5% salt water prior to irradiation. The minimal erythema dose (MED) was determined and the erythema index and skin pigmentation were assessed by photometric measurement. The combination of salt water bath and irradiation yielded a significant decrease of the MED when compared to UVB alone (median 90 mJ/cm2 vs 130 mJ/cm2, P < 0.01). Analysis of variance showed a significant influence of salt water bath on erythema (P < 0.05) but not on skin pigmentation. Within the MED test area the erythema index of the salt water exposed forearms was elevated significantly (P < 0.05) while skin pigmentation was not affected. Thus, bathing the skin in salt water leads to a decreased threshold level for the elicitation of UVB-induced erythema and a selective increase of the erythemal response. This sensitization to the effects of shortwave UVB radiation may increase immunosuppressive effects of UVB radiation and may lead to an increased efficacy of UVB phototherapy. However, there is also an increased sunburn risk when salt water baths are followed by exposure to UV radiation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of various salt solutions on ultraviolet B-induced erythema and pigmentation].

The combination of saltwater baths and subsequent ultraviolet irradiation is an effective treatment for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The aim of the present study was to determine the photosensitizing properties of two commercially available bath salts, original salt from the Dead Sea and sodium chloride. To address this issue, test areas on the volar aspects of the forearms were soaked with salt solutions for 15 minutes prior to ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. The salt concentrations tested were 1%, 3% 5% and 15%. Tap water followed by UVB and UVB alone served as controls. Erythema was determined by visual and photometric measurement, and delayed tanning was assessed by colorimetry. Erythema obtained by wetting the skin prior to UVB irradiation was more pronounced than erythema induced by UVB alone. The most prominent erythema was yielded by tap water + UVB. The salts had a differing photosensitizing capacity and the strongest erythema was produced by the 5% solutions. There was only a moderate influence on delayed tanning by bathing the skin prior to irradiation. The results from the present study indicate that soaking the skin with salt solutions or tap water increases skin sensitivity to subsequent UVB irradiation. This may contribute to the effectiveness of salt water baths followed by UV irradiation and may account for an increased sunburn risk after bathing.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Characterization of nonresponders in high dosage UVA1 therapy of acute exacerbated atopic dermatitis].

High-dose UVA1 therapy is an effective treatment of patients with acute atopic dermatitis. However, some patients do not respond well to this new therapy. We attempted to further characterize the non-responder population in a retrospective study. Two closely matched groups of responders (n = 20) and non-responders (n = 20) were compared. No significant differences were observed between both groups with respect to the following parameters: skin type, minimal erythema dose, single and cumulative doses of UVA1, and peripheral blood eosinophils. However, non-responders were characterized by a highly elevated atopic score, and by high levels of total IgE and of specific IgE. Furthermore, colonization of the skin with Staphylococcus aureus occurred at higher densities, and intestinal growth of Candida albicans was more frequently observed. These data indicate that high-dose UVA1 irradiation is not effective in all patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. We conclude that non-responders with complicating infections might benefit from the combination of high-dose UVA1 therapy and antibiotic or antimycotic treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of chronic palmoplantar eczema with local bath-PUVA therapy.

BACKGROUND: Systemic PUVA therapy may be useful in the treatment of chronic palmoplantar eczema. Topical PUVA-paint avoids some of the unwanted side effects of systemic psoralens and has been used successfully in the treatment of palmoplantar eczema and psoriasis. However, few data are available on the effectiveness of local bath-PUVA therapy in palmoplantar eczema. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of local bath-PUVA therapy in 28 patients with chronic palmar or plantar eczema or both who were resistant to conventional topical treatment. METHODS: After fungal or bacterial infection had been excluded in all patients, hands or feet or both were soaked for 15 minutes in warm water containing 1 mg/L 8-methoxypsoralen. Immediately after, the skin was irradiated with increasing doses of UVA, starting with 0.5 J/cm2. PUVA-bath therapy was performed 4 times a week up to a total of 25 treatments. No additional therapy was allowed except emollients. RESULTS: Excellent or good effects were achieved in 93% of the patients with dyshidrotic and in 86% of the patients with hyperkeratotic eczema. In the patients with dyshidrotic eczema, the cumulative doses and the highest single doses of UVA were lower than those in the patients with hyperkeratotic eczema (21.4 vs 27.9 J/cm2 and 2.4 vs 3.0 J/cm2 of UVA), but this was not statistically significant. No phototoxic reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: Local bath-PUVA therapy is of value in the management of chronic palmoplantar eczema resistant to standard modes of topical treatment. Compared with topical PUVA-paint, local bath-PUVA therapy has several advantages, particularly the absence of phototoxic reactions, severe hyperpigmentation, and protracted photosensitivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Dermatitis bullosa striata pratensis caused by Dictamnus albus L. (burning bush)].

We report two patients with bullous phototoxic contact dermatitis caused by Dictamnus albus L. (gas plant) which belongs to the Rutaceae family. In both cases long lasting postinflammatory hyper-pigmentations were observed as a result of the phototoxic contact dermatitis. The phototoxic components of Dictamnus albus L. are the furocoumarins 5-methoxypsoralen (bergapten) and 8-methoxypsoralen, and the alkaloid dictamnin whose phototoxic properties were recently discovered. Even though reactions to the gas plant have been infrequently reported, it is becoming more popular with gardenus and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of phototoxic contact dermatitis.

5-Methoxypsoralen↗
PubMed1996

[Bath additives in dermatologic balneotherapy. Indications and approaches in current research].

Progress in dermatological research during the last years has provided new insights into the mode of action of additives to dermatological baths. The present paper reviews the pharmacokinetics of dermatological bath therapy additives such as sulfur, salts and trace elements, tars and ichthyol, lipids, antiseptics, astringents, plant extracts, surface-active agents and proteins.

Balneology↗
PubMed1996

Phototesting in bath-PUVA: marked reduction of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) activity within one hour after an 8-MOP bath.

It is not known how long after 8-MOP bath-PUVA administration erythema can be induced. Therefore, after determination of dose-dependence and kinetics of bath-PUVA erythema, we investigated the development of erythema using an erythematogenic UVA-dose (3 J/cm2) in time course experiments. Our results show that there is a loss of biological 8-MOP activity already 1 h after 8-MOP bath. This has important consequences for clinical practice with bath-PUVA, concerning the optimum time interval between the 8-MOP bath and irradiation as well as the persistence of photosensitivity in normal skin after bath-PUVA.

Baths↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypericin levels in human serum and interstitial skin blister fluid after oral single-dose and steady-state administration of Hypericum perforatum extract (St. John's wort).

The photodynamically active plant pigment hypericin, a characteristic metabolite of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), is widely used as an antidepressant. When administered orally, phototoxic symptoms may limit the therapeutic use of hypericin-containing drugs. Here we describe the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) detection of hypericin and semiquantitative detection of pseudohypericin in human serum and skin blister fluid after oral single-dose (1 x 6 tablets) or steady-state (3 x 1 tablet/day, for 7 days) administration of the Hypericum extract LI 160 in healthy volunteers (n = 12). Serum levels of hypericin and pseudohypericin were always significantly higher than skin levels (p </= 0.01). After oral single-dose administration of Hypericum extract the mean serum level of total hypericin (hypericin + pseudohypericin) was 43 ng/ml and the mean skin blister fluid level was 5.3 ng/ml. After steady-state administration the mean serum level of total hypericin was 12.5 ng/ml and the mean skin blister fluid level was 2.8 ng/ml. These skin levels are far below hypericin skin levels that are estimated to be phototoxic (>100 ng/ml).

Adult↗