UNASSIGNED: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, proof-of-concept trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VerbasnolTM [Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch leaf-based extract (RGLE)] in females, with moderate to severe acne vulgaris.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-two females aged 18 to 35 years having moderate to severe acne with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scores of 19 to 38 were included in the study and were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either one capsule (100 mg/day) of RGLE or placebo orally after breakfast for 56 days. The primary outcome was a change in acne severity measured by the GAGS compared to the placebo on day 56. The secondary outcomes were changes in the number of inflammatory acne lesions, facial sebum secretion, quality of life, local pain and itching, skin wrinkle severity, and other skin characteristics, including radiance, luminosity, smoothness, texture, firmness, and hydration. Additionally, the percentage of responders and global tolerability and efficacy were evaluated.
UNASSIGNED: The mean GAGS score was reduced by 21.72% and 14.20% on day 28 in RGLE (n=10) and placebo groups (n=12), respectively, which further reduced in both groups on day 56. The RGLE group reported better improvement in other skin characteristics on day 56. No safety or tolerability concerns were reported for the extract. RGLE reduced acne and improved the skin quality in females compared to placebo as early as 28 days of supplementation.
UNASSIGNED: RGLE supplementation at a dose of 100 mg/day has provided a clinically relevant decrease in acne severity and improved the skin hydration and quality of life of the participants with acne after 56 days of dose administration.

Optical spectroscopy is studied to contribute to skin cancer diagnosis. Indeed, optical spectra are modified along cancer progression and provide complementary information (e.g., on metabolism and tissue structure) to clinical examination for surgical guidance [1,2]. The current original dataset is made of autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectra acquired in vivo on 131 patients\' skin with the SpectroLive device [3,4]. Spatially-resolved spectroscopy measurements were performed using a multi-fiber optic probe featuring 4 distances (0.4-1 mm) between excitation and collection optical fibers: spatial resolution allows spectra acquired at different distances to carry information from different depths in skin tissues. Five types of autofluorescence spectra were acquired using five different wavelength excitations (on the 365-415 nm spectral range) in order to collect information on several skin endogenous fluorophores (e.g., flavins, collagen). A sixth light source (white broadband) was used to acquire diffuse reflectance spectra carrying information about skin scattering properties and skin endogenous absorbers such as melanin and hemoglobin. Patients were proposed to be included into the clinical trial if they were suspected of suffering from actinic keratoses (precancerous skin lesions) or from basal or squamous cell carcinomas: in all cases, complete diagnostics is provided in the dataset. To increase the interest of the dataset and evaluate the dependence of optical spectra (intensity, shape) not only on pathological states but also on healthy skin features (civil age, skin age, gender, phototype, anatomical site), spectra were acquired for all 131 patients on two so-called \"reference\" skin sites known to rarely suffer from skin cancer: palm of the hand (featuring a thick skin type) and inner wrist (featuring thin skin). Spectra are available in .tab files: first column displays the spectral range on which intensity spectra were recorded (317-788 nm) and each following column provides an intensity spectrum acquired by each spectrometer for a given combination of light source excitation and distance. Each of the 131 folders corresponding to each of the 131 patients contains a .json file providing patients clinical features: gender, civil age, skin age, phototype score and class. All .tab files names include anatomical site and anatomopathological diagnostics of the skin site on which spectra were acquired: codes were defined to match a letter or an acronym to each diagnostic and anatomical site. To ensure quality control, a spectrum was acquired on the same calibration standard before starting spectra acquisition on each patient. It is therefore possible to follow the impact of the acquisition optical chain ageing during the 4.5 years that the patients were included. This dataset can be used by epidemiologists for the characterization of populations affected by skin cancers (gender ratio, mean age, anatomical sites typically affected, etc.); it may also be used by researchers in artificial intelligence to develop innovative methods to process such data and contribute to non-invasive diagnostics of skin cancers whose incidence is steadily increasing.

OBJECTIVE: Defensins are peptides capable of reactivating latent LGR6 stem cells in the basal layer. When applied topically, these peptides can reduce signs of skin aging and increase dermal thickness. This study investigates the effects of a topical defensin formulation on extremity skin composition.
METHODS: An open label, single arm clinical trial was conducted on participants with dry, photoaged, or dull skin. A defensin-containing hand and body cream was applied twice daily for 6 weeks to the hands, forearms, elbows, and knees. Photographs and objective measurements of skin hydration, viscoelasticity (VE), retraction time (RT), thickness, density/transepidermal water loss (TEWL), as well as self-evaluation of skin quality and characteristics were obtained pre- and post- intervention.
RESULTS: After the study period, RT decreased by 56% across all body sites (p < 0.001) and VE improved at the elbow (125%, p = 0.009) and knee (110%, p < 0.001). Skin density also increased in all 4 body sites (40%, p < 0.001), while skin thickness increased at the elbow (29%, p = 0.03) and knee (17%, p = 0.04). Skin hydration increased at the elbow, knee, and forearm by 99%, 28%, and 16%, respectively (p < 0.05), while TEWL improved at the elbow only (-39%, p = 0.02). Patients\' self-evaluations showed improvements in overall skin quality and in the domains of dryness, ashiness, wrinkling, pigmentation, redness, roughness, and discomfort (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Following 6-week use of a defensin-containing cream, subjects reported significant improvement across many subjective skin domains. Similarly, objective measurements demonstrated significant improvement in skin architecture at select sites.

Epidermal three-dimensional (3D) topography/quantification has not been completely characterized yet. The recently developed line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) provides real-time, high-resolution, in-vivo 3D imaging of the skin. This pilot study aimed at quantifying epidermal metrics (epidermal thicknesses, dermal-epidermal junction [DEJ] undulation and keratinocyte number/shape/size) using 3D LC-OCT. For each study participant (8 female, skin-type-II, younger/older volunteers), seven body sites were imaged with LC-OCT. Epidermal metrics were calculated by segmentations and measurements assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) when appropriate. Thicknesses of epidermis/SC, DEJ undulation and keratinocyte nuclei volume varied across body sites. Evidence of keratinocyte maturation was observed in vivo: keratinocyte nuclei being small/spherical near the DEJ and flatter/elliptical near the skin surface. Skin microanatomy can be quantified by combining LC-OCT and AI. This technology could be highly relevant to understand aging processes and conditions linked to epidermal disorders. Future clinical/research applications are to be expected in this scenario.

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides (AMPs) are considered as the key players in the maintenance of skin barrier functions. Here, we developed a novel approach for the examination of AMPs in the outermost layer of the epidermis, namely stratum corneum (SC). The SC sample collection by tape stripping was coupled with detection by highly specific and sensitive parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-based mass spectrometry. We found that hexane-free processing of SC samples produced higher protein yield compared to hexane-based extraction. Of the 18 investigated peptides, 9 could be detected either in healthy or in inflamed skin specimens. Regarding the amount of S100A8, LCN2, LACRT and LYZ significant topographical differences were described among gland poor (GP), sebaceous gland rich (SGR) and apocrine gland rich (AGR) healthy skin regions. We applied a minimally invasive, reproducible approach for sampling, which can be assessed for research and diagnostic purposes and for monitoring the effectiveness of therapies in skin diseases.

Hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes is a major histopathological feature of chronic Sarcoptes scabiei dermatitis. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of several keratins in scabietic dermatitis in sheep and in the skin of healthy sheep, using a panel of commercially available anti-human antibodies for keratins. Keratins AE1/AE3 and 34BE12 were expressed in all epithelial structures in healthy skin. Keratin MNF116 was expressed in the stratum basale and in the three lowest layers of the stratum spinosum, in follicular epithelium and in apocrine glands. Keratin K5/6 expression was seen in the stratum basale, in the two lowest cell layers of the stratum spinosum, in the outer root sheath of hair follicles and in myoepithelial cells of apocrine glands. K14 expression was observed in the stratum basale, in locally extensive regions of the two lowest cell layers of the stratum spinosum, in the outer root sheath of hair follicles and in sebaceous glands. Immunolabelling of K19 antigen was confined to apocrine glands. In scabietic skin, immunolabelling of keratin 34BE12 was seen in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum but was restricted to some locally extensive regions in hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic stratum corneum. Keratin MNF116 was widely labelled in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum. There was expansive labelling of K5/6 keratin in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and in locally extensive regions of stratum granulosum, as well as in hyperkeratotic or parakeratotic stratum corneum. Expansive labelling of K14 keratin was detected in all layers of hyperplastic stratum spinosum and in the layers of the hyperplastic stratum granulosum. K5/6 and K14 keratins were also labelled in the inner root sheath of occasional hair follicles.

BACKGROUND: Previous research using animal models demonstrated that CD44 expression may contribute to directing inflammatory cells into skin lesions during inflammation development in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
OBJECTIVE: To examine CD44 expression in patients with ACD and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and to compare it to patients with psoriatic lesions and healthy controls\' (HCs) skin.
METHODS: This study included 200 patients comprising four groups of 50 each: ACD, ICD, psoriasis vulgaris, and HCs. CD44 expression was determined by immunohistochemical analysis using an optical microscope, and the results were visualized semiquantitatively by determining the percentage of immunoreactive cells in the epidermis, dermis, and on lymphocytes.
RESULTS: The highest CD44 expression was found in ICD, followed by ACD, psoriasis vulgaris, and lastly, the HCs (P < .001). Epidermal CD44 expression was significantly higher in contact dermatoses (especially in ICD) compared with psoriasis and healthy skin (P < .001). Similarly, CD44 expression in the dermis and on lymphocytes was strongest in ICD, although less pronounced than in the epidermis.
CONCLUSIONS: Because significantly elevated CD44 expression in ICD might be related to its function in maintaining and preserving the skin barrier in affected patients, further research on disease pathogenesis and new treatment options is needed.

Several noninvasive imaging techniques have been developed to monitor the health of skin and enhance the diagnosis of skin diseases. Among them, skin elastography is a popular technique used to measure the elasticity of the skin. A change in the elasticity of the skin can influence its natural frequencies and mode shapes. We propose a technique to use the resonant frequencies and mode shapes of the skin to monitor its health. Our study demonstrates how the resonant frequencies and mode shapes of skin can be obtained using numerical and experimental analysis. In our study, natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained via two methods: (1) finite element analysis: an eigensolution is performed on a finite element model of normal skin, including stratum corneum, epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers and (2) digital image correlation (DIC): several in-vivo measurements have been performed using DIC. The experimental results show a correlation between the DIC and FE results suggesting a noninvasive method to obtain vibration properties of the skin. This method can be further examined to be eventually used as a method to differentiate healthy skin from diseased skin. Prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are critical in helping to reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality associated with skin cancer; thus, making the current study significant and important in the field of skin biomechanics.

To provide a synthesis of the best available, recent primary or secondary research evidence on early preventative activities taken to increase skin health, and reduce the incidence of facility-acquired skin tears and pressure ulcers (PUs) in community, residential and health-care institutions.
An integrative review focusing on a 10-year period, 2007-2017. A literature search of health databases was carried out, as well as a search of grey literature in relevant skin, wound care and nursing association journals. A second search was also conducted focused on literature from policy and guideline development organisations. Primary outcomes of interest were reduction in dry skin (xerosis), friable skin, or increases in healthy skin maintenance activities. Secondary outcomes of interest were reductions in PU or skin tear occurrences. Opinion, non-systematic literature reviews and discussion papers were excluded.
Of the 4932 references obtained from the searches, a total of 33 articles were included in the review: 27 peer-reviewed journal articles and six articles from the grey literature search. No guideline was found that focused on maintaining skin health as a person ages. Studies identified the main factors for maintaining skin health as nutrition, hydration and skin care regimen.
Skin care regimens, including a focus on good nutrition and pH balance, should start immediately on arrival in institutions such as hospitals or residential aged care, and continue throughout the stay.

We report on an intervention and evaluation in relation to changes in staff knowledge, time spent on healing and wound prevention and proportion of wounds in the facilities before and after. A rapid review of recent peer-reviewed literature (2006-2016) found 14 education-based intervention articles and provided the background and context for this intervention. A cohort of 164 nurses and personal care workers and 261 residents at two aged care-approved facilities contributed to this intervention on the effect of education, mentoring and practice change on staff knowledge and wound prevalence between 2015 and 2016. There was a significant decrease in pressure injury prevalence and an increase in the early identification of potential wounds between phase 1 and 3 across the two facilities. Overall, registered nurses and enrolled nurses showed significant increase in mean knowledge scores. There was a reorganisation of time spent on various wound care and prevention strategies that better represented education and knowledge. Wound management or prevention education alone is not enough; this study, using an educational intervention in conjunction with resident engagement, practice change, mentorship, onsite champions for healthy skin and product choice suggestions, supported by an organisation that focuses on a healthy ageing approach, showed improvement across two residential sites.