BACKGROUND: As the largest organ of the body, the skin is constantly subjected to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), leading to inflammations and changes that mirror those seen in chronological aging. Although various small molecule drugs have been explored for treating skin photoaging, they typically suffer from low stability and a high incidence of adverse reactions. Consequently, the continued investigation of photoaging treatments, particularly those utilizing herbal products, remains a critical clinical endeavor. One such herbal product, Lapagyl, is derived from the bark of the lapacho tree and possesses antioxidant efficacies that could be beneficial in combating skin photoaging.
OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal product Lapagyl in combating UVR-induced skin photoaging. Additionally, it sought to unravel the mechanisms by which Lapagyl promotes the regeneration of the skin extracellular matrix.
METHODS: To investigate whether Lapagyl can alleviate skin aging and damage, a UVR radiation model was established using SKH-1 hairless mice. The dorsal skins of these mice were evaluated for wrinkle formation, texture, moisture, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and elasticity. Pathological assessments were conducted to determine Lapagyl\'s efficacy. Additionally, single-cell sequencing and spectrum analysis were employed to elucidate the working mechanisms and primary components of Lapagyl in addressing UVR-induced skin aging and injury.
RESULTS: Lapagyl markedly reduced UVR-induced wrinkles, moisture loss, and elasticity decrease in SKH-1 mice. Single-cell sequencing demonstrated that Lapagyl corrected the imbalance in cell proportions caused by UVR, decreased UVR-induced ROS expression, and protected basal and spinous cells from skin damage. Additionally, Lapagyl effectively prevented the entry of inflammatory cells into the skin by reducing CCL8 expression and curtailed the UVR-induced formation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the skin. Both pathological assessments and ex vivo skin model results demonstrated that Lapagyl effectively reduced UVR-induced damage to collagen and elastin. Spectrum analysis identified Salidroside as the primary compound remaining in the skin following Lapagyl treatment. Taken together, our study elucidated the skin protection mechanism of the herbal product Lapagyl against UVR damage at the cellular level, revealing its immunomodulatory effects, with salidroside identified as the primary active compound for skin.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided a thorough evaluation of Lapagyl\'s protective effects on skin against UVR damage, delving into the mechanisms at the cellular level. We discovered that Lapagyl mitigates skin inflammation and immunosuppression by regulating Foxp3+ Tregs and the CCL pathway. These insights indicate that Lapagyl has potential as a novel therapeutic option for addressing skin photoaging.

The presence of phenobarbital and formaldehyde in drugs, food, and beverages can lead to various health issues, including inflammation, oncogenesis, and neurological distress. Psychological stress leads to mood fluctuations and the onset of skin inflammation. Skin inflammation has a range of causes, including chemicals, heavy metals, infection, immune-related disorders, genetics, and stress. The various treatments for skin inflammation include medical and cosmetic creams, diet changes, and herbal therapy. In this study, we investigated the effects of Avocom-M and pomegranate seed oil extract (PSOE) against phenobarbital- and formaldehyde-induced skin biochemical changes in rats. We analyzed the constituents of PSOE using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We also observed biochemical changes in the skin of human volunteers with and without TROSYD and PSOE as a skin cream. We compared the biochemical changes in human volunteers\' skin before treatment and 21 days after the treatment stopped. The outcomes showed an improvement in the rats\' biochemical status, due to PSOE and Avocom-M treatment. The human volunteers treated with TROSYD and PSOE showed substantial amelioration of skin inflammation. PSOE, Avocom-M, and TROSYD produced beneficial effects by reducing the levels of cyclooxygenase-2, lipid peroxidation, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, elastase, collagenase, and nitric oxide in the animals tested on and in human volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: The biological safety of natural jade materials and assembled jade-activated materials on cells and their anti-inflammatory and damage repair functions, as well as the repair function on sensitive skin, were studied utilizing in vitro cell biology and in vivo.
METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were used as model cells to conduct cytotoxicity experiments in vitro, and the effects on the expression of inflammatory factors and growth factor-related genes in fibroblasts were explored. The gene expression values of inflammatory factors IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and cytokines epidermal growth factors, fibroblast growth factors and COL1A1 in fibroblasts were measured by polymerase chain reaction test. Thirty women with sensitive skin were selected to apply a mask containing jade extract three times a week. After two weeks, non-invasive measures related to skin sensitivity were tested.
RESULTS: We confirmed the presence of anti-inflammatory effects in both jade materials, with the effects of the assembled activated jade material being superior to that of the natural jade material. Jade extracts significantly increased the gene expressions of EGF, FGF and COL1A1 in HDF. The results of the in vivo study showed that the mask containing jade extract could significantly increase the skin hydration and decrease the rate of transepidermal water loss and skin lactic acid sting test scores after two weeks of use. Subjective evaluations confirmed improvements in skin dryness, smoothness and fineness. No new sensitization occurred in subjects, and the product was non-irritating. No adverse skin reactions were observed during the test.
CONCLUSIONS: The jade materials were able to downregulate the expression of inflammatory factor genes, up-regulate the expression of growth factor genes, and improve the anti-inflammation and repair ability of skin. Furthermore, the test results of participants with sensitive skin after using the mask containing jade extract showed that the mask has repairing ability.
OBJECTIVE: L’innocuité du jade naturel, et des substances assemblées activées par le jade, sur les cellules, leurs effets anti-inflammatoire et réparateur, ainsi que leur action réparatrice sur les peaux sensibles ont été étudiés au moyen de la biologie cellulaire in vitro et in vivo. MÉTHODES: Des fibroblastes de peau humaine (HDF - Human Dermal Fibrolasts) ont été utilisés comme cellules modèles pour réaliser des tests de cytotoxicité in vitro, et les effets sur l’expression des facteurs inflammatoires et des gènes associés aux facteurs de croissance dans les fibroblastes ont été étudiés. Les valeurs de l’expression génique des facteurs inflammatoires IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, des facteurs de croissance épidermique des cytokines (EGF - Epidermal Growth Factor), des facteurs de croissance des fibroblastes (FGF - Fibroblast Growth Factor), et du COL1A1 (Gène Collagen, type I, alpha 1) dans les fibroblastes ont été mesurées au moyen d’un test de réaction en chaîne par polymérase. Trente femmes présentant une peau sensible ont été sélectionnées pour appliquer un masque contenant de l’extrait de jade trois fois par semaine. Au bout de deux semaines, des mesures non invasives de la sensibilité de la peau ont été réalisées. RÉSULTATS: Nous confirmons la présence d’effets anti-inflammatoires pour les deux substances, avec de meilleurs résultats pour la substance assemblée activée par le jade comparé à ceux du jade naturel. Les extraits de jade ont significativement augmenté l’expression de l’EGF, du FGF, et du COL1A1 dans les HDF. Les résultats de l’étude in vivo ont révélé que le masque contenant de l’extrait de jade pouvait améliorer significativement l’hydratation de la peau, réduire le pourcentage de perte en eau trans-épidermique et améliorer les résultats du test de piqûre d’acide lactique (LAST - Lactic Acid Sting Test) de la peau après deux semaines d’utilisation. Les évaluations subjectives ont confirmé des améliorations de la sécheresse cutanée, de la douceur et de la finesse du grain de la peau. Aucune nouvelle sensibilisation n’est apparue chez les sujets, et le produit s’est avéré non-irritant. De même, aucune réaction cutanée indésirable n’a été observée pendant le test.
CONCLUSIONS: Le jade a été capable de réguler à la baisse l’expression des gènes associés aux facteurs inflammatoires, de réguler à la hausse l’expression des gènes associés aux facteurs de croissance, et d’améliorer les capacités anti-inflammatoire et réparatrice de la peau. De plus, après utilisation du masque contenant de l’extrait de jade, les résultats des tests chez les participantes ayant une peau sensible ont démontré que ce masque avait une capacité réparatrice.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory skin diseases were the most common problem in dermatology. This study aimed to develop a circuit by using a simple method for noninvasive, objective, and real-time skin inflammation screening.
METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The rats were chemically induced to suffer from skin inflammation at the back of their left-hand side while the right-hand side of their back remained untreated serving as a control. Impedance (Z) spectrum of the rat\'s skin was recorded.
RESULTS: Two characteristic frequencies (4.5 and 48.3 kHz) were found. At the two frequencies, the impedance of inflammatory skin tissue (ZIST ) was found to be significantly (P < .05) smaller than that of normal healthy skin tissue (ZNHST ). Moreover, the ratio of the impedance measured at 4.5 kHz (Zf = 4 .5 kHz ) to the impedance measured at 48.3 kHz (Zf = 48.3 kHz ), that is, Zf = 4.5 kHz /Zf = 48.3 kHz , was capable of skin inflammation screening. It was observed that the inflammatory skin tissue (IST) had the smaller value of Zf = 4 .5 kHz /Zf = 48.3 kHz (value < 8.5) and normal healthy skin tissue (NHST) had the higher value of Zf = 4 .5 kHz /Zf = 48.3 kHz (value ≈ 10) which almost remained constant.
CONCLUSIONS: A circuit was developed which was used for measuring the skin impedance accurately at the two characteristic frequencies for skin inflammation screening.

BACKGROUND: The quality of outcome assessment in acne studies has been either subjective/insufficient or time consuming through the ordinary lesion counting.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of multimodal clinical imaging (MCI), a combination of imaging technology and computation, in the assessment of acne lesions in a clinical study setting.
METHODS: A prospective, monocentric, single-group open study designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a cosmetic product (IP/SG) in subjects with mild-to-moderate facial acne by classical clinical counting (CCC) - change in the total/inflammatory/noninflammatory acne lesion number compared with baseline (D0) - Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) and self-reported outcomes. Concomitantly, MCI was administered. The study was performed for 12 weeks (D84) with a 4-week follow-up (D112).
RESULTS: Mean age of patients (n = 49) was 18.2 ± 3.7 years (range 13-25). The mean acne duration was 3.8 ± 2.8 years. The total number of lesions did not differ significantly between D0/D84 by both CCC and MCI. However, the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) and uncomfortable feeling improved at D28/D0, the perception of oily skin improved at D14/D0, and the perception of sticky skin improved from D28/D0 to D56/D0. Deterioration was detected between D84/D0 and D112/D0, namely after product discontinuation. Interestingly, a change in trend was recorded for acne lesions at D14/D0 by MCI but not by CCC.
CONCLUSIONS: MCI, applied for the first time in a small clinical study setting, is at least as reliable as CCC and may allow for a sensitive longitudinal evaluation of single acne lesions and their response to products, especially in conditions where clinical evaluation reaches its limits.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids have been the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat skin inflammation, but their uses can lead to several adverse effects. Nowadays, new pharmacological strategies have been evaluated to improve dermatologic efficacy and reduce adverse effects, including natural products.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of a plant sterol standardized supercritical CO2 phytopharmaceutical of Physalis angulata L. with hydrocortisone on the immune and inflammatory mediators, and skin repair components production. Moreover, we studied effects of both products on the skin microcirculation and temperature in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
METHODS: Both products were evaluated on the immune (IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1α), inflammatory (COX-2, LOX, PLA2 , PGE2 , LTB4 , histamine, and NF-κB), and repair components (TGF-β, GM-CSF, collagen, and GAG) production on human keratinocytes and fibroblast in non-stimulated and LPS-stimulated conditions. Indeed, in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of the both creams on the skin microcirculation and temperature using laser Doppler and infrared thermometer, respectively.
RESULTS: Physalis angulata acted on the skin, modulating immune status and inflammatory response producing corticoid-like effects, but different of hydrocortisone, increased skin repair factors. The effects of phytopharmaceutical cream in the clinical trial promoted a better reduction in skin microcirculation and temperature than hydrocortisone.
CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results indicate that sterol standardized CO2 supercritical preparation of P angulata is a new and innovative phytopharmaceutical with multiple pharmacological effects potentially useful as human skin protective product, particularly against cutaneous inflammatory disorders.

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) also referred to as \'white curcumin\', is a stable colorless hydrogenated product of curcumin with superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study is an attempt to elevate the topical bioavailability of THC, post-incorporation into a nano-carrier system with its final dosage as a hydrogel. Lipid nanoparticles of THC (THC-SLNs) prepared by microemulsification technique were ellipsoidal in shape (revealed in transmission electron microscopy) with a mean particle size of 96.6 nm and zeta potential of -22 mV. Total drug content and entrapment efficiency of THC-SLNs was 94.51% ± 2.15% and 69.56% ± 1.35%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the formation of THC-SLNs. In vitro drug release studies showed the drug release from THC-SLNs gel to follow Higuchi\'s equation revealing a Fickian diffusion. Ex vivo permeation studies indicated a 17 times (approximately) higher skin permeation of THC-SLNs gel as compared with the free THC gel. Skin irritation, occlusion, and stability studies indicated the formulation to be nonirritating, and stable with a desired occlusivity. Pharmacodynamic evaluation in an excision wound mice model clearly revealed the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of THC-SLNs gel and was further confirmed using biochemical and histopathological studies. It is noteworthy to report here that THC-SLNs gel showed significantly better (p ≤ 0.001) activity than free THC in gel. As inflammation is innate to all the skin disorders, the developed product opens up new therapeutic avenues for several skin diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper elaborating the therapeutic usefulness of white curcumin-loaded lipidic nanoparticles for skin inflammation.

Cutaneous irritants exposure induces an excess of ROS in the skin and can ensue an inflammatory response. Topical antioxidant-based formulations can help to counteract ROS generation. This study evaluated the influence of antioxidant-based topical formulations on the inflammatory response of skin, using a combination of in vivo real-time non-invasive techniques. Nine test areas were defined on each volar forearm of the 25 Japanese volunteers. Measurements were performed before and after treatment with 15μL of a 5% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and 15μL of the same based formulation or the vehicle with 1% of the antioxidants. Volunteers without antioxidant treatment showed more pronounced erythematous areas. Transepidermal water loss of areas treated with green tea polyphenol (GTP)-based formulation showed fully recovered skin. Skin barrier damage caused by repeated applications of SDS showed characteristic alterations, detectable by in vivo confocal microscopy such as desquamation, spongiosis and inflammatory infiltrates. The majority of confocal microscopy inflammation signs were found in skin without treatment followed by the vehicle. Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, Coenzyme Q10, GTP- and Resveratrol-based formulations reduced the anti-inflammatory cytokines release and attenuated inflammatory signs. The combination of techniques provides results that highlight the importance of antioxidant-based formulations for rapid skin recovery.

BACKGROUND: Application of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is an established in vivo model that locally induces skin inflammation. Currently in this model, a biopsy is inevitable. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), a noninvasive imaging technique, could overcome this limitation. To find out to what extent RCM may be an in vivo investigative and diagnostic tool in neutrophilic conditions, we studied the dynamics of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) migration from dermis to stratum corneum using an established LTB4 model.
METHODS: Leukotriene B4 was topically applied on the skin of the lower back of seven volunteers. The skin sites were evaluated by RCM for three consecutive days with a 24 h time interval. For histological correlation, 3-mm punch biopsies were obtained. The tissue sections were hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical stained. Minimal and average epidermal thickness was measured.
RESULTS: Reflectance confocal microscopy imaging showed highly reflective ill-defined particles with a granular content throughout the epidermis 24 h after application of LTB4. Over time, the appearance of these cells changed throughout the epidermis. Epidermal thickness increased over time, and the measurements based on the RCM images corresponded very well with the histological images.
CONCLUSIONS: Reflectance confocal microscopy was able to visualize PMN migration, accumulation, and degeneration over time in the used LTB4 model. The noninvasive character and the possibility to obtain multiple in vivo images from the same location over time make that RCM in combination with this model a useful tool to study the dynamics and function of PMN in inflammatory processes in the skin.