SEARCH · PubMed Health
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Two randomized, double-blind comparison studies were conducted to evaluate the efforts of 2 emollient dry skin creams containing urea in the management of dry skin in atopic patients. Cream with 10% urea was shown to be effective in the management of dry skin and hand dermatitis. The cream with a pH of 6 caused less burning.
It seems evident from a wealth of scientific research that mercury is toxic. Because of the nature of the Saudi markets, different brands of skin-lightening creams are widely available. In this study, 38 skin-lightening cream samples were collected and analyzed for mercury by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry after an acid digestion procedure. About 45% of the tested skin-lightening cream samples contained mercury at levels well above the FDA's acceptable limit of 1 ppm. These findings are alarming and have wide legal and educational implications for Saudi Arabia in particular and developing countries in general. Further investigation for possible adverse health effects is also needed.
BACKGROUND: There is a basic necessity to understand the mechanisms of the protective effects of emulsions. This would promote the development of protective cosmetics and therefore improve the prevention and treatment of occupational skin diseases. However, for such studies, no reliable skin model is available. OBJECTIVE: An in vitro skin model test was developed to evaluate the protective mechanism of cosmetic ingredients. METHODS: The efficacy of three products was assessed by an in vivo test (Repetitive Occlusive Irritation Test) and then 3-dimensional skin model tests were carried out. RESULTS: In vivo test results demonstrate that the best protection against sodium dodecyl sulphate is offered by a multiple emulsion. In the case of a skin model test, sodium dodecyl sulphate led to cell damage, an increase in pro-inflammatory markers and some barrier lipids. The multiple emulsion increased the content of skin lipids, without inducing irritation or cell death. CONCLUSION: Skin models react similarly to sodium dodecyl sulphate compared to human skin and therefore they are suitable to study barrier repair after sodium dodecyl sulphate damage. It is likely that the superior protective effect of the multiple emulsion in vivo is based on the increased amount of skin barrier lipids.
BACKGROUND: Several aromatic amines (AA) could cause bladder cancer and are an occupational hygiene problem in the workplace. However, little is known about the percutaneous absorption of chemicals via impaired skin and about the efficacy of skin protection measures to reduce internal exposure. AIMS: To determine the impact of skin status and of skin protection measures on the internal exposure to AA in workers manufacturing rubber products. METHODS: 51 workers occupationally exposed to aniline and o-toluidine were examined. The workplace conditions, risk factors for skin and the use of personal protective equipment were assessed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The skin of hands and forearms was clinically examined. Exposure to aniline and o-toluidine was assessed by ambient air and biological monitoring (analyses of urine samples and of haemoglobin adducts). RESULTS: Haemoglobin-AA-adduct levels in workers with erythema (73%) were significantly higher (p<0.04) than in workers with healthy skin (mean values: aniline 1150.4 ng/l vs 951.7 ng/l, o-toluidine 417.9 ng/l vs 118.3 ng/l). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that wearing gloves significantly reduced the internal exposure. A frequent use of skin barrier creams leads to a higher internal exposure of AA (p<0.03). However, the use of skincare creams at the workplace was associated with a reduced internal exposure (p<0.03). From these findings we assume that internal exposure of the workers resulted primarily from the percutaneous uptake. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a significantly higher internal exposure to AA in workers with impaired skin compared with workers with healthy skin. Daily wearing of gloves efficiently reduced internal exposure. However, an increased use of skin barrier creams enhances the percutaneous uptake of AA. Skincare creams seem to support skin regeneration and lead to reduced percutaneous uptake.
A total of 109 subjects reporting symptoms indicating type I hypersensitivity reactions to natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves was included in this study, and 66 of them had latex-specific IgE antibodies. They underwent provocation tests by wearing two types of NRL gloves with high (n=103) and low (n=75) allergen contents. The first glove type caused positive skin reactions in 30% of IgE-positive and in 3% of IgE-negative subjects. After application of a commercially available skin protection (barrier) cream, the frequencies of positive skin responses in wearing tests increased to 41% and 7%, respectively. The gloves with low allergen content did not cause hypersensitivity without skin-protection cream but induced responses in 5% of IgE-positive subjects when this cream was applied. Corresponding findings were obtained in intraindividual comparisons of test results, which were possible in 69 cases. Of all wearing-test responders, 92% had latex-specific IgE antibodies. Our results demonstrate that high allergen contents in latex gloves frequently elicit skin responses in NRL-sensitized subjects, and that skin-protection creams may favor the uptake of allergens from gloves, thus increasing allergic reactions. The stipulation of a legally binding threshold limit value (TLV) for allergens in NRL products is urgently needed. This TLV should not be set above 2 microg allergen/g rubber.
A 34-year-old woman developed nephrotic syndrome after using a skin lightening cream that contained an extremely high level of mercury. Blood and urine mercury levels were elevated and a renal biopsy revealed minimal change disease. Membranous nephropathy was excluded using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Her proteinuria remitted 9 months after she stopped using the cosmetic cream. This is the first reported case in the English literature of proven minimal change disease secondary to mercury exposure. It is important that mercury poisoning due to cosmetic cream is considered in the differential diagnoses for any woman who presents with nephrotic syndrome.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to adjust an experimental protocol with the rabbit to control the skin barrier creams efficacy. ELABORATE TECHNIQUE: Therefore, we applied irritant aqueous solutions and solvents on the shaved skin of the rabbit flank protected with one of these creams. We noticed inflammatory reactions of erythema and oedema but we also conducted an histological examination of the treated skin. DISCUSSION: This protocol is simple, there is no investment with equipment and only a few number of rabbits are required. There is only a difficulty with applying the same volume of cream since cream consistency is variable and makes the comparison between the different creams quite delicate. This method should be supported by well-controlled studies between several laboratories.
An animal model for the evaluation of skin protective creams against chemical irritants is described. The irritants were applied daily for 2 weeks to shaved back skin of young guinea pigs: sodium lauryl sulphate (5% aq.; 30 min), sodium hydroxide (0.5% aq.; 2 min), and toluene (20% eth.; 2 min). The barrier cream was applied 2 h prior to and immediately after exposure to the irritant. Control animals were treated with the irritant only. The irritant reaction was scored on a 4-point scale for erythema and quantified with regard to transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by evaporimetry and skin blood flow volume (BFV) by laser Doppler velocimetry. A total of 90 guinea pigs, consisting of individual panels of 5 to 10 animals, was tested. While one barrier cream (Stokoderm) significantly suppressed the irritation due to sodium lauryl sulphate and toluene, the other (Contra-Alkali) failed to do so and even aggravated the response, which was particularly evident with sodium hydroxide. This model may be useful in developing more effective barrier creams.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A 46 year old woman developed membranous nephropathy following the use of a mercury-containing skin lightening cream. This association has not been reported in the literature for over a decade and apparently never from this country. It is important that clinicians are aware of this usually eminently treatable cause of the nephrotic syndrome as it is likely to be missed unless specifically enquired for.
Skin cancer is a major problem in the elderly. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common skin cancer, typically occurs in this age group. Despite a number of modalities readily available for treatment (depending on the tumor site, and depth of invasion) there remains the problem of individuals with multiple lesions who may be unsuitable for existing treatments for SCC, particularly surgery. Consequently, the search for novel treatments continues. To our knowledge, there are only 6 published reports of invasive SCC treated with 5-percent imiquimod cream.
The clinical and histological effects of retinyl propionate cream (a retinyl ester) on extrinsic skin ageing (photo-ageing) in man were assessed in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of 80 subjects, individual parameters of this being assessed for each treatment site (face, dorsal right forearm and hand, dorsal left forearm and hand) at intervals throughout the study, while skin surface replicas from sites of fine wrinkling around the eye and skin biopsies from the dorsal right forearm were also regularly reviewed throughout. Seventy-five subjects completed an initial 24-week study period, following which 60 elected to continue for a further 24 weeks. Although minimal trends towards improvement occurred, no statistically significant differences between the effects of the retinyl propionate cream and the placebo preparation were apparent for any of the clinical, histological or profilometric parameters of skin photoageing; however, in the very few subjects affected, actinic keratoses in the active group were reduced virtually to zero by week 48.
The efficacy of the use of EMLA cream to provide skin anaesthesia prior to the insertion of 16 G Tuohy needles was assessed. Sixty women in labour were randomly allocated to receive either EMLA cream over the proposed epidural site for a minimum period of 5 min (mean 9.1 min), a skin bleb and subcutaneous injection of lignocaine 2% (1 ml), or a skin bleb with additional lignocaine 2% (2 ml) infiltrated into the supra- and interspinous ligaments using a 23 G needle. Once the epidural catheter was sited, using a standard technique, 10 cm visual analogue pain scales were completed independently by the patient, by a blinded midwife and by the anaesthetist siting the epidural. Patients' perception of pain was not significantly different in any of the three groups, although the mean pain score was least in the group receiving full infiltration. The anaesthetists consistently underestimated the patients' perception of pain.
Fair & Lovely is an over-the-counter skin-lightening cream sold widely in Saudi markets. Its mercury content is 0.304+/-0.316 microg/g, in the range of 0.102 to 0.775 microg/g. This study was designed to evaluate its toxic effects on mice. The cream was applied on mice for a period of 1 month at different intervals. Mercury levels were measured in the liver, kidney, and brain tissue samples of a total of 75 adult female CD1 mice by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer coupled to a Vapor Generator Accessory. The mean mercury concentrations in the tissues of the treated mice were 0.193+/-0.319 microg/g; whereas for the control group, it was 0.041 microg/g+/-0.041microg/g. While the kidney was found to have the highest mercury content, the brain was found to have the lowest content. Treated mice showed a significant reduction in body weight. Marked histological changes were clearly noted in the kidney and, to a lesser extent, in the brain and liver. These results indicate that although Fair & Lovely mercury content is less than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permissible limits histopathological changes in the brain, kidney, and liver tissues are evidence of its possible toxicity.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the experiments was to evaluate the efficacy of skin barrier creams (SBCs) and protective gloves and its potential for reduction of percutaneous absorption of industrial solvents. METHODS: We assessed percutaneous absorption of ethylene glycol (EG), isopropyl alcohol (IA) and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (TMB), using static diffusion cells. These solvents were applied neat (EG, TMB) as well as in 10% and 50% aqueous solution (EG, IA) or in 10% and 50% ethanol-diluted solution (TMB). Furthermore, we tested the percutaneous absorption of IA mixed in one cleaning agent (CA), used in newspaper printing shops to clean the rollers of printing machines. Additionally, the penetration behaviour of 10% and 50% solutions of EG, IA and TMB was tested. The experiments were carried out on untreated and on SBC-treated excised human skin from one donor, and on protective gloves. Saline was used as receptor fluid for EG and IA, and neat ethanol for TMB. RESULTS: The penetration of 50% EG, IA and TMB solutions through SBC-treated skin was higher than in untreated skin (factor 3.9 for EG, 0.32 for IA and 0.06 for TMB). The penetration of IA in the IA-CA mixture was five-times higher through untreated skin as for the single compound in 10% aqueous solution. In skin, treated with SBC, we found a 17-fold penetration enhancement of IA in the IA-CA mixture. No appreciable penetration of EG and IA was observed through nitrile rubber gloves. CONCLUSIONS: Our in vitro experiments could not demonstrate an efficacy of SBC to protect skin penetration for the tested solvents. The percutaneous absorption of all solvents in 50% solution was increased through skin treated with SBCs. Furthermore, SBCs enhance the penetration rates of solvents from complex mixtures compared with the single solvents. The tested gloves showed sufficient protection for the hydrophilic solvents, but not for TMB.
An improved human model for the quantification of skin barrier creams (BCs) is described. In contrast to the previously published procedure, the back, instead of the forearm, and a total of 4 irritants are used. Due to the larger area, 3 BC formulations can be simultaneously compared to the control field, which receives the irritant only, without BC-pretreatment. On 10 human volunteers, the irritants 10% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), 1% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 30% lactic acid (LA) and undiluted toluene (TOL) were applied via large Finn Chambers for 30 min, 5 x during the 1st week and 4 x during the 2nd week. Taktosan Salbe (water-in-oil emulsion) and RAWI Speerschutzcreme (oil-in-water emulsion) were applied 30 min before contact with the irritants. In order to assess reproducibility and interindividual variation, the BC RAWI was tested in duplicate. Irritant cutaneous reactions were quantified by 4 parameters: erythema score, transepidermal water loss, blood flow volume and stratum corneum hydration by measuring capacitance. The results showed marked differences in efficacy. Taktosan significantly suppressed irritation by SLS, NaOH and LA, which was apparent in nearly all parameters. RAWI caused significant inhibition of SLS irritation, and a positive trend against NaOH and LA was observed. Both BCs failed against TOL. The results of duplicate testing with RAWI showed good reproducibility. The dogma that oil-in-water emulsions are primarily effective against lipophilic irritants, and water-in-oil emulsions against hydrophilic irritants, needs to be re-evaluated on the basis of our findings. This model seems to have potential for further studies on BCs and might elucidate the complex interaction of BCs with irritants.
Maintaining healthy intact skin is an important issue for many healthcare professions. Elderly patients are at particular risk from damage by moisture and mechanical forces such as pressure, friction and shear because of age-related skin changes. This product focus looks at the skin and describes the changes that occur in the older person. It also describes the second product in the 3M Health Care skin care range, Cavilon Durable Barrier Cream. This product follows on from and complements the success of Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film.
The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the efficiency of two protective creams elaborated in my laboratory, devised for protection of skin exposed to aqueous solution of chromium and nickel compounds. The creams were tested by the measurement of Cr2O7(2-) and Ni2+ absorption rate through the skin in rats and excretion of these metals in urine after termination of exposure. It was found that absorption rate both ions through the skin and their excretion in urine decreased in presence of creams. However, correlation between absorption rate and excretion of these metals in urine was not found.