Editor’s Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 02 Nov 2012 – 14:00 PDT

Redheads and fair skinned people are more susceptible to developing skin cancer, regardless of whether or not they expose their skin to the sun, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) reported in the journal Nature.

The authors explain that the kind of skin pigment that predominates in red-haired and fair-skinned people may be a contributing factor in melanoma risk.

Senior author, David Fisher, MD, PhD, chief of the MGH Department of Dermatology, director of the CBRC, said:

“We’ve known for a long time that people with red hair and fair skin have the highest melanoma risk of any skin type. These new findings do not increase that risk but identify a new mechanism to help explain . This may provide an opportunity to develop better sunscreens and other measures that directly address this pigmentation-associated risk while continuing to protect against UV radiation, which remains our first line of defense against melanoma and other skin cancers.”

There are several types of pigment melanin in human skin:

• Eumelanin (dark brown or black melanin) – is predominant in people with dark hair or dark skin
• Pheomelanin (lighter blond-to-red melanin) – is predominant in people with red hair, freckles and fair skin

Dermatologists know that red/blond melanin is less effective than dark melanin in protecting against ultraviolet damage. However, the authors identified some “hints” that melanoma rates among fair-skinned and red-headed people cannot be fully explained by poorer UV (ultraviolet) protection.

They found that the melanoma risk occurs in areas of the skin that are not exposed to the sun’s rays.

Sunscreens do help reduce UV exposure and the damage. However, several studies have suggested that they may not be as good at protecting against melanoma as against other kinds of skin cancers.

In this study, the scientist used strains of mice with virtually identical genes, except for the gene that controls which type of melanin is produced. They had dark mice – with the typical variant leading to a predominance of dark melanin. The other mice were the “red hair-fair skin” version, with the same variant that makes people have red hair and fair skin.

They used a method created by team members from the University of California/San Francisco and Yale University to activate the melanoma-associated form of the BRAF oncogene in patches of the mice’s skin pigment cells. They expected that melanoma formation would only occur if they were exposed to UV radiation.

More melanomas among the red mice, even with no UV radiation exposure

Surprisingly, they found that within a few months, half of the red animals developed melanomas, compared to very few of the dark ones.

The scientists checked to make sure that none of the mice had been exposed to UV radiation – they had not. They then wondered whether the red pigment itself might be causing the cancer.

They genetically disabled all the pigment production in the red hair/fair skinned mice, effectively creating a strain of “albino redheads”. The incidence of melanoma among these albino redheads dropped dramatically, indicating that there is something in the pigment itself that is encouraging the development of melanoma.

They wondered whether the generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) might be involved in melanoma risk. ROS are unstable oxygen-containing molecules that harm cells. The scientists examined the skin of both the red and albino redhead mice.

They discovered high levels of a kind of DNA damage which is usually produced by ROS in the skin of red mice, but not in the albino redheads. They explained that this finding “supports oxidative damage as the mechanism behind red-pigment-associated melanoma formation.”

The authors say that most likely antioxidant treatment would reduce this risk. However, Fisher emphasized that further studies are required to identify safe and effective ways of exploiting this knowledge.

Fisher said:

“Antioxidant treatments are not highly predictable in their actions and in some instances have even been seen to increase rather than prevent oxidative damage. Therefore we need to determine how to control this pathway safely and effectively. There are additional key questions to investigate, such as whether these findings also may pertain to people with, for example, fair skin and dark hair.

Right now we’re excited to have a new clue to help better understand this mystery behind melanoma, which we have always hoped could be a preventable disease. The risk for people with this skin type has not changed, but now we know that blocking UV radiation – which continues to be essential – may not be enough. It will be important for these individuals to be aware of changes in their skin and never hesitate to have something checked by a dermatologist, even if they have scrupulously protected themselves from sun exposure, which we continue to encourage. About six out of seven melanomas will be cured if they are found early, so we need to heighten awareness and caution.”

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/skin-cancer-risk-among-redheads-higher-even-without-sun/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/in-red-haired-fair-skinned-individuals-an-unexpected-factor-contributes-to-melanoma-risk/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/in-red-haired-fair-skinned-individuals-an-unexpected-factor-contributes-to-melanoma-risk/#comments Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:01:05 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/in-red-haired-fair-skinned-individuals-an-unexpected-factor-contributes-to-melanoma-risk/

Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 02 Nov 2012 – 0:00 PDT

The well-established elevated risk of melanoma among people with red hair and fair skin may be caused by more than just a lack of natural protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In an article receiving Advance Online Publication in Nature, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC) and Cancer Center researchers report finding that the type of skin pigment predominantly found in red-haired, fair-skinned individuals may itself contribute to the development of melanoma.

“We’ve known for a long time that people with red hair and fair skin have the highest melanoma risk of any skin type. These new findings do not increase that risk but identify a new mechanism to help explain it,” says David Fisher, MD, PhD, chief of the MGH Department of Dermatology, director of the CBRC and senior author of the Nature paper. “This may provide an opportunity to develop better sunscreens and other measures that directly address this pigmentation-associated risk while continuing to protect against UV radiation, which remains our first line of defense against melanoma and other skin cancers.”

Several types of the pigment melanin are found in the skin: a dark brown or black form called eumelanin, predominant in individuals with dark hair or skin, and a lighter blond-to-red pigment called pheomelanin, the predominant pigment in individuals with red hair, freckles and fair skin. Red/blond melanin is known to be less effective than dark melanin in shielding against UV damage, but there were several hints that the incidence of melanoma in individuals of that skin type may not be fully explained by limited UV protection. While the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers is limited to sun-exposed areas, the melanoma risk also applies to areas of skin not exposed to sunlight. In addition, although available sunscreens may do a good job of blocking some forms of UV damage such as sunburns, many studies have suggested that they may not be as effective protecting against melanoma as against other types of skin cancers.

In their search for additional contributors to melanoma development, the MGH team used strains of mice that were nearly identical genetically except for the gene that controls the type of melanin produced. One group of dark-colored mice had the typical variant leading to a predominance of dark melanin. Another group of mice had a “red hair-fair skin” version, the same variant that produces red hair and fair skin in humans. The researchers used a method devised by co-authors at the University of California, San Francisco and Yale University to activate the melanoma-associated form of the BRAF oncogene in patches of the animals’ skin pigment cells, with the expectation that an additional environmental stress like UV radiation would be needed to induce melanoma formation. They were surprised to find that within months, half of the red mice had developed melanomas, while only a few dark mice had.

After confirming that there was no unexpected UV radiation in the area where the mice were housed, the investigators wondered whether red pigment itself might be carcinogenic. Since the red hair/fair skin gene controls many cellular activities beyond pigment production, they tested the melanoma risk within a group of red hair/fair skinned mice in which all pigment production had been genetically disabled, a strain called “albino redheads.” The researchers observed that complete removal of the red-pigment pathway profoundly protected those mice from melanoma formation, indicating that something about the pigment itself, and not other aspects of being red-haired and fair-skinned, was leading to melanoma.

Suspecting that the red-pigment-associated risk might be chemically related to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) – unstable oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cells – the researchers examined skin from both red and albino redhead mice. They discovered elevated levels of a type of DNA damage typically produced by ROS in skin of red mice but not in albino redheads, supporting oxidative damage as the mechanism behind red-pigment-associated melanoma formation.

While this result suggests antioxidant treatments may be able to reduce this risk, Fisher cautions that further research is needed to identify safe and effective ways to exploit this knowledge. “Antioxidant treatments are not highly predictable in their actions and in some instances have even been seen to increase rather than prevent oxidative damage. Therefore we need to determine how to control this pathway safely and effectively,” he says. “There are additional key questions to investigate, such as whether these findings also may pertain to people with, for example, fair skin and dark hair.

“Right now we’re excited to have a new clue to help better understand this mystery behind melanoma, which we have always hoped could be a preventable disease,” he adds. “The risk for people with this skin type has not changed, but now we know that blocking UV radiation – which continues to be essential – may not be enough. It will be important for these individuals to be aware of changes in their skin and never hesitate to have something checked by a dermatologist, even if they have scrupulously protected themselves from sun exposure, which we continue to encourage. About six out of seven melanomas will be cured if they are found early, so we need to heighten awareness and caution.”

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/in-red-haired-fair-skinned-individuals-an-unexpected-factor-contributes-to-melanoma-risk/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/researchers-invent-a-quick-release-medical-tape-that-minimizes-neonatal-skin-injury/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/researchers-invent-a-quick-release-medical-tape-that-minimizes-neonatal-skin-injury/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:01:04 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/researchers-invent-a-quick-release-medical-tape-that-minimizes-neonatal-skin-injury/

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children’s Health
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 31 Oct 2012 – 1:00 PDT

Commercial medical tapes on the market today are great at keeping medical devices attached to the skin, but often can do damage – such as skin tissue tearing – once it’s time to remove them.

A research team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) has invented a quick-release tape that has the strong adhesion properties of commercial medical tape, but without the ouch factor upon removal.

The team was led by Jeffrey Karp, PhD, BWH Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, senior study author in collaboration with The Institute for Pediatric Innovation which defined the need and requirements for a new neonatal adhesive based on national surveys of neonatal clinicians.

The study detailing the tape design will be electronically published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research was conducted in collaboration with Robert Langer, PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The tape which achieves strong adhesion when securing medical devices to skin, but could also easily peel off safely, utilizes a three-layer design approach that sets a new paradigm for quick-release medical tapes.

“Current adhesive tapes that contain backing and adhesive layers are tailored to fracture at the adhesive-skin interface. With adults the adhesive fails leaving small remnants of adhesive on the skin while with fragile neonate skin, the fracture is more likely to occur in the skin causing significant damage,” said Karp. “Our approach transitions the fracture zone away from the skin to the adhesive-backing interface thus completely preventing any harm during removal.”

The approach incorporates an anisotropic adhesive interface between the backing and adhesive layers. The anisotropic properties of this middle layer means that it has different physical properties dependent on direction. For instance, take wood, which is stronger along the grain than across it.

The researchers employed laser etching and a release liner to create the anisotropic interface resulting in a medical tape with high shear strength (for strong adhesion) and low peel force (for safe, quick removal). Once the backing is peeled off, any remaining adhesive left on the skin can safely be rolled off with a finger using a “push and roll” technique.

“This is one of the biggest problems faced in the neonate units, where the patients are helpless and repeatedly wrapped in medical tapes designed for adult skin,” said Bryan Laulicht, PhD, BWH Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, lead study author.

There are more than 1.5 million injuries each year in the United States caused by medical tape removal. Such injuries in babies and the elderly – populations with fragile skin – can range from skin irritation to permanent scarring.

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/researchers-invent-a-quick-release-medical-tape-that-minimizes-neonatal-skin-injury/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/commonly-prescribed-glaucoma-drug-may-be-effective-in-treating-male-pattern-baldness-and-other-forms-of-alopecia/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/commonly-prescribed-glaucoma-drug-may-be-effective-in-treating-male-pattern-baldness-and-other-forms-of-alopecia/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:41:04 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/commonly-prescribed-glaucoma-drug-may-be-effective-in-treating-male-pattern-baldness-and-other-forms-of-alopecia/

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Eye Health / Blindness;  Men’s Health
Article Date: 30 Oct 2012 – 0:00 PDT

If you’re balding and want your hair to grow back, then here is some good news. A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal shows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow. It’s been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes, but these data are the first to show that it can actually grow human hair from the scalp.

“We hope this study will lead to the development of a new therapy for balding which should improve the quality of life for many people with hair loss,” said Valerie Randall, a researcher involved in the work from the University of Bradford, Bradford, UK. “Further research should increase our understanding of how hair follicles work and thereby allow new therapeutic approaches for many hair growth disorders.”

To make this discovery, Randall and colleagues conducted three sets of experiments. Two involved human cells and the other involved mice. The tests on human cells involved using hair follicles growing in organ culture as well as those take directly from the human scalp. In both of these experiments, the scientists found that bimatoprost led to hair growth. The third set of experiments involved applying bimatoprost to the skin of bald spots on mice. As was the case with human cells, the drug caused hair to regrow.

“This discovery could be the long-awaited follow up to Viagra that middle-aged men have been waiting for,” said Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal. “Given that the drug is already approved for human use and its safety profile is generally understood, this looks like a promising discovery that has been right in front of our eyes the whole time. On to the front of our scalp!”

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/commonly-prescribed-glaucoma-drug-may-be-effective-in-treating-male-pattern-baldness-and-other-forms-of-alopecia/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/mutation-identified-that-causes-skin-hyperproliferation/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/mutation-identified-that-causes-skin-hyperproliferation/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:21:05 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/mutation-identified-that-causes-skin-hyperproliferation/ Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click ‘references’ tab above for source.
Visit our dermatology section for the latest news on this subject.

Editor’s Choice
Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 19 Oct 2012 – 9:00 PDT

Richard Lee Norris, 37, who lost most of his face in a gun accident in 1997, and underwent the most extensive full face transplant ever seven months ago, is “exceeding all expectations”, his doctors announced this week.

Richard Lee Norris had suffered a horrific gun accident in 1997 which claimed his lips, part of his jaw, and his nose. After literally having his face blown off, he managed his life as best he could for 15 years, wearing a mask and living as a recluse until he was selected for surgery.

In March 2012, at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma at the University of Maryland Medical Center, a medical team completed a 36-hour surgical procedure in which they replaced Norris’ entire face, including his tongue, both jaws, teeth and nose. At the time, it was the most comprehensive face transplant on record; the hospital claims it still is.

Transplant team leader was Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., D.D.S., associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Rodriquez said in March that they used state-of-the-art surgical practices and computerized techniques to transplant the mid-face, maxilla and mandible including teeth, and a portion of the tongue with precision. they also transplanted all facial soft tissue from the scalp to the neck; this included the underlying muscle so that his face could move as he expressed himself, with all the sensory and motor nerves eventually restored with full feeling and function.

In March 2012, Dr. Rodriguez said:

“Our goal is to restore function as well as have aesthetically pleasing results.”

A few days after his surgery was completed, Norris worked with speech therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Then started his long road towards re-gaining functional use of his jaw, tongue and new face.

The donor of the face remains anonymous. We do know that not only was his face used for transplantation, but other organs too.

Today, 7 months later, Norris really does have a “proper” face

The University of Maryland has released the most amazing pictures which show what Norris used to look like before his accident, then with the devastating disfigurement after, and two more photographs showing him within a week of the operation and how he looks today. They take the reader through a mixture of sensations, from shock and horror to amazement and joy. Norris really does have a face today which, as he said “No longer gets the stares and comments”.

1) Norris’s original face.
2) After the gun accident.
3) One week after surgery.
4) His face today, 7 months later

Norris said yesterday (Thursday, October 18th, 2012):

“For the past 15 years I lived as a recluse hiding behind a surgical mask and doing most of my shopping at night when less people were around, I can now go out and not get the stares and have to hear comments that people would make. People used to stare at me because of my disfigurement. Now they can stare at me in amazement and in the transformation I have taken.

I am now able to walk past people and no one even gives me a second look. My friends have moved on with their lives, starting families and careers. I can now start working on the new life given back to me.”

“I am doing well. I spend a lot of my time fishing and working on my golf game. I am also enjoying time with my family and friends. I do still have follow-up appointments with a lot of different doctors and therapists to ensure everything is healing up properly. I have been undergoing physical therapy and also speech therapy. I have been doing very well regaining my speech back. Each day it improves a little more.”

His facial muscles are now starting to respond; today Norris smiles and is able to show facial expressions. According to the medical team, motor function is at about 80% on the right side of his face and 40% on the other side. Unlike before, he can now smell, taste, and eats mainly by mouth.

Norris’ rehabilitation team continues working with him to train his facial nerves to communicate with each other to restore normal movement and speech.

Making sure Norris’ body does not reject the new tissue

Rejection of transplanted tissue is something doctors need to prepare for and monitor continuously. Norris has been undergoing a complex immunosuppression regimen, which is overseen by Dr. Rolf Barth, associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Barth, who is also a research scientist, says it is crucial to reduce any chances of rejection and to minimize the side effects that may be caused by long-term usage of immunosuppressive medications. Doctors and patient have to walk a fine line between of making sure rejection does not occur, while at the same time keeping side effects to a minimum.

Stephen T. Bartlett, M.D., Peter Angelos Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and surgeon-in-chief and senior vice president at the University of Maryland Medical System, said:

“We began this research more than 10 years ago when we saw the devastating injuries sustained by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices. Now having seen how this surgery has changed Richard’s life, we are even more dedicated to researching ways to improve facial transplantation and helping more patients, including military veterans, return to normal lives after undergoing this same surgery.”

The University of Maryland facial transplantation program is being expanded to serve more patients, including military servicemen and women and veterans who were wounded while on active duty.

Norris’ face transplant occurred thanks to 10 years of R&D which was funded by the Office of Naval Research in the Department of Defense. Dr. Bartlett received a grant to research composite vascularized allografts for military personnel with facial injuries caused by improved explosive devices.

E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said “The results we’re seeing in Mr. Norris today are a reflection of the collaboration between our research and clinical teams who have worked tirelessly to give him a return to normalcy.”

Norris added:

“Thanks to all the people and organizations that made this possible: the grant from the Department of Defense’s Office of Naval Research; The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center; Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, his team and staff; Angel Flight Mid Atlantic; The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland; and the family of the donor whose organs also saved the lives of five other people.”

Other face transplants in the USA and abroad

Charla Nash, a 57-year old woman, underwent a full face transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mass. in June 2011. She had been mauled by an angry 200-pound pet chimpanzee in February 2009. The attack left her blind. On the day of her operation she was quoted as saying that she would love to be able to eat pizza and hamburgers again, instead of the pureed food she had had to live on during the months preceding the operation.

A team of 30 people were involved in the procedure, replacing blood vessels, underlying muscles, teeth, the hard palate, and nerves.

First ever full face transplant – in April 2010, the first full face transplant was carried out at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, on a man who had severely injured himself in a shooting accident five years previously. The accident left him unable to swallow or breathe.

A team of 30 doctors operated on the patients for over 20 hours to transplant a completely new face from the donor to the recipient, a farmer.

The patient received new muscles, jaw, cheekbones, nose lips, teeth, eyelids and facial skin. At the time, ten partial face transplants had been performed in various parts of the world – this was the first transplantation of a whole face, the hospital claimed.

Connie Culp, 46, a US citizen and mother of two, was involved in a near-total face transplant, according to The Lancet in July 2009. The patient had been injured after being shot in the face with a shotgun by her husband. She was left with most of the middle part of her face missing – she lost her nose, skin, vital nerves, mouth, and other structures. Before the operation she was unable to drink from a cup and her speech was slurred; she had no sense of smell.

Culp underwent 23 major reconstructive operations. However, the disfigurement remained , leaving her feeling humiliated every time she went out. Her doctors determined that the only way to effectively treat the disfigurement would be with a face transplant.

Isabelle Dinoire underwent a partial face transplant in 2005 at the Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens, France. She had lost parts of her face when her dog tried to revive her during a suicide attempt.

A year later she described how wonderful it was to be able to go out without people staring at her. On two occasions her body started rejecting the foreign tissue, however, this was resolved with some adjustments to her immunosuppressant medications.

Li Guoxing, 30, received a partial face transplant in 2006 at the Xijing Military Hospital, Xian, China. The man’s face had been disfigured after a bear attack. Guoxing received a new upper lip, cheek and bone.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/face-transplant-patient-exceeding-all-expectations/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/psoriasis-patients-twice-as-likely-to-develop-diabetes/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/psoriasis-patients-twice-as-likely-to-develop-diabetes/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:21:03 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/psoriasis-patients-twice-as-likely-to-develop-diabetes/

Editor’s Choice
Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Also Included In: Diabetes;  Dermatology
Article Date: 16 Oct 2012 – 13:00 PDT

A new meta-analysis of 27 studies shows a clear link between people with psoriasis and diabetes.

The study, led by UC Davis researchers, was published online in Archives of Dermatology, and found a strong association between the dry skin rash and blood sugar disorder.

Psoriasis is widespread skin condition that runs in families. It is characterized by red, raised, flaky and often itchy, rash, and is found mostly on the knees and elbows, but can appear anywhere. Doctors believe it is an autoimmune disease; the body thinks of the skin as foreign and therefore gives off an inflammatory response. Earlier studies have hinted that psoriasis could be a risk factor for diabetes.

April Armstrong, assistant professor of dermatology at UC Davis and lead investigator of this study, and her team examined 27 studies of patients with psoriasis. Five of these studies looked at how many of the patients developed diabetes during the period of study, 10 to 22 years. The remainder of the studies assessed the incidence of diabetes at the commencement of the study. In total, they examined over 314,000 people with psoriasis and compared them with 3.7 million people without the disease (a control group).

The collection of data for these studies shows that patients with mild psoriasis are more than 1.5 times more likely to develop diabetes than the general public, while those suffering from severe psoriasis are twice as likely.

Studies that assessed prevalence found patients with psoriasis had a 27 percent elevated risk of getting diabetes, compared with the general public.

All but one study found a link between psoriasis and diabetes. These trials contained data from outpatient clinics, insurance claims, and hospitals. The rate of diabetes was the same regardless of patients’ ethnicities or countries. Armstrong explains:

“The large sample size and consistent association between psoriasis and diabetes make these study findings very strong and suggest an underlying physiological link between the two diseases.”

The authors admit that additional research is needed to interpret how the two diseases are intertwined. Armstrong suggests changed immune pathways may be responsible for making psoriasis patients more vulnerable to diabetes.

She goes on to say:

“There is evidence that fat cells in psoriasis patients may not function normally. These cells secrete inflammatory substances known as cytokines that increase insulin resistance in the liver and muscle and initiate destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.”

More research can also verify other possible limiting factors that are seen in the current study; a factor that could be confusing, like concurrent medications used to treat psoriasis that may change the risk of developing diabetes.

It has been known that blood pressure is harder to control in patients with psoriasis and also that psoriasis patients suffer higher instances of heart attack, strokes, and cardiovascular-related deaths. In order to provide the best and earliest care, it is imperative for physicians to be aware of these predispositions.

Armstrong and her team plan to study endothelial cells, cells that line the blood vessels, in order to interpret the unseen physiological basis of psoriasis. They will soon create a network to share clinical data on patients with psoriasis.

Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/psoriasis-patients-twice-as-likely-to-develop-diabetes/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/new-clues-for-treating-eczema/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/new-clues-for-treating-eczema/#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:21:03 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/new-clues-for-treating-eczema/

Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Also Included In: Dermatology;  Pediatrics / Children’s Health
Article Date: 14 Oct 2012 – 0:00 PDT

More than 15% of children suffer with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease that in some cases can be debilitating and disfiguring. Researchers reporting in the October issue of Immunity have discovered a potential new target for the condition, demonstrating that by blocking it, they can lessen the disease in mice.

In eczema, immune T cells invade the skin and secrete factors that drive an allergic response, making the skin itch. Dr. Raif Geha, of Boston Children’s Hospital, and his collaborators now show that scratching the skin precipitates the condition by encouraging an influx of other immune cells called neutrophils. These neutrophils secrete a lipid called leukotriene B4 that calls in more neutrophils, and more importantly, potent immune T cells that are the hallmark of eczema. These cells cause inflammation that aggravates the skin further. The investigators suspected that blocking the onslaught of these cells might slow down the disease or even stop it in its tracks.

Furthermore, Dr. Geha and his colleagues wondered whether the production of leukotriene B4 served to recruit T cells to the site of mechanical insult. And indeed that was the case. “We showed that a drug that blocks the production of leukotriene B4 blocks the development of allergic skin inflammation in a mouse model of eczema,” says Dr. Geha. His team also found that deleting the receptors on immune cells that bind to leukotriene B4 had a similar effect.

“Our findings suggest that neutrophils play a key role in allergic skin inflammation and that blockade of leukotriene B4 and its receptor might provide a new therapy for eczema,” says first author Dr. Michiko Oyoshi.

Most people get eczema as infants, and they tend to outgrow it by adolescence; however some people continue to experience “flare-ups” of an itchy rash on and off throughout life. Some develop these after coming into contact with particular substances, such as specific soaps, or in response to certain conditions, such as a respiratory infection or cold.

]]> http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/new-clues-for-treating-eczema/feed/ 0 http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/how-ultraviolet-radiation-changes-the-protective-functions-of-human-skin/ http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/how-ultraviolet-radiation-changes-the-protective-functions-of-human-skin/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:01:30 +0000 SkinDoc http://thetruthaboutskincare.com/how-ultraviolet-radiation-changes-the-protective-functions-of-human-skin/

Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 09 Oct 2012 – 1:00 PDT

Reinhold Dauskardt, PhD, of Stanford’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering has been studying skin for years. But when he sent his students to look for data on the mechanical properties of skin, they came back empty-handed. A lot was known about skin structure and disease, but few papers actually talked about its mechanical function – its ability to stretch and resist tension without tearing. “That motivated us to get more interested in the skin itself,” said Dauskardt.

He and his team, including Ph.D. student Krysta Biniek and postdoctoral researcher Kemal Levi, focused on the outmost layer of skin: the stratum corneum. It protects deeper layers from drying out or getting infected, and it’s also our first line of defense against UV radiation. Their study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

They found that beyond the well-documented DNA damage and cancer risk, UV rays also change the way the outermost skin cells hold together and respond to strain.

Innovative Methods

Ironically, the methodology behind these discoveries about skin originated in the field of photovoltaics. A grant from the US Department of Energy supported Dauskardt’s research into the effects of severe environments and prolonged UV exposure on materials – in particular, the materials that make up solar panels.

“Here we were looking at solar cells then suddenly thinking, ‘Hey, we should be looking at applying these techniques to skin,’” said Dauskardt, pictured at right.

The researchers subjected samples of human tissue to varying doses of UVB radiation. (UVB is the range of ultraviolet wavelengths that are largely absorbed by the epidermis and do not penetrate to deeper layers.) Then they tested the mechanical limits of the samples by putting them under different kinds of stress until they tore.

We’ve all experienced the sensations of dryness, stiffness, or chapping after washing our hands with harsh soap, sitting by a space heater or under the air conditioning vent, or spending too long in the sun. Now we can begin to understand the mechanical properties behind those sensations. This is the first time that such methods have been applied to the study of skin.

The Human Fortress

Our body’s outermost stratum corneum defensive layer has a “brick-and-mortar” structure. The “bricks” in this model are dead cells called corneocytes, which are filled with a matrix of keratin filaments. Our skin’s rigidity – its ability to resist deformation under pressure – is due largely to the bonds between these strands of protein. The researchers were surprised to find that while the keratin was structurally changed by UVB exposure, the stiffness of the tissue wasn’t affected. When the skin samples were mounted onto opposing grips and pulled apart, samples with greater UVB exposure were just as resistant.

The “mortar” of skin defense, on the other hand, took a beating from the UV rays. Between the corneocytes is a layer of lipids – fatty, waxy substances that hold the skin cells together and keep water from getting though. In a process called bulge testing, thin strips of skin were mounted over the opening of a cavity filled with pressurized water so they ballooned outward. The team found that UV exposure increased the tissue’s tendency to absorb water and loosened the bonds between the lipids, making it more likely to tear under pressure. This means that sun-damaged skin is more prone to cracking and chapping, leaving deeper layers vulnerable to infection.

In another technique borrowed from materials science, the researchers used a double cantilever beam model to test the cohesive properties of skin. Imagine fused restaurant chopsticks being pried open, but with a tissue sample glued into the region that gets torn apart. UV damage made the individual corneocytes separate more easily, especially in deeper layers of the stratum corneum.

This result suggests that another component of the “mortar,” proteins called corneodesmosomes, were also being damaged. These proteins are crucial to desquamation – the process of shedding dead skin cells, which allows us to replace the entire stratum corneum every two to four weeks. While the long-term impact of UV exposure on the desquamation mechanism has not been studied yet, damage to corneodesmosomes could mean deeper, lasting damage to the skin’s protective abilities.