A Correlation of the Glogau Scale With VISIA-CR Complexion Analysis Measurements in Assessing Facial Photoaging for Clinical Research

Prebiotic and panthenol-containing dermocosmetic improves tolerance from artificial daylight photodynamic therapy: A randomized controlled trial in patients with actinic keratosis

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES

Treatment with daylight photodynamic therapy (dPDT) of actinic keratosis (AK) is associated with local skin reactions (LSR), which may affect patients' quality of life and treatment acceptability. This study explores the potential of a prebiotic and panthenol-containing Dermocosmetic Cream (DC) to enhance tolerance and mitigate post-dPDT induced LSR in the treatment of AKs.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This randomized controlled, intra-individual trial included 20 patients with ≥10 AKs in two symmetrical areas on their face or décolleté, treated with a single session of artificial dPDT. After treatment, the two areas were randomized to DC twice daily for 14 days or No-DC. Primary outcomes included clinical signs of LSR graded from 0=none to 3=severe, calculated as a composite score, and assessed on Days 2, 7, 14, and 30 post-treatment, along with AK clearance rate. Secondary outcomes encompassed objectively measured erythema, and clinical and objective skin photoaging assessment.

RESULTS

Topical application of DC following dPDT significantly improved post-treatment tolerance up to two weeks. By Day 2, DC-treated skin had milder LSR (median 3.0, IQR 2.0-4.8) compared to No-DC skin (median 4.0, IQR 3.0-5.0; p=0.011). This improvement continued on Day 7 (DC median 3.0, IQR 2.0-3.8 vs. No-DC median 4.5, IQR 3.0-5.8; p<0.001) and Day 14 (DC median 1.0, IQR 0.0-1.0 vs. No-DC median 1.0, IQR 1.0-2.0; p=0.004). Objective measurements showed milder erythema in DC-treated areas on Day 2 (p=0.045) and Day 7 (p=0.005). Crusting resolved more effectively in DC-treated areas by Day 7 (40% vs. 20%; p=0.039). No significant difference in complete lesion response rate was observed between DC and No-DC skin (p=0.850). By Day 30, clinical photoaging assessment demonstrated significant improvement in dyspigmentation (p=0.004) and skin texture (p<0.001) in both locations. Moreover, objective measurements revealed reduced dyspigmentation in both DC and No-DC treated skin (p≤0.001).

CONCLUSION

Application of a prebiotic and panthenol-containing multipurpose DC significantly enhanced tolerance from artificial dPDT and accelerated healing time up to 14 days after treatment. The use of DC cream did not affect the overall treatment efficacy of dPDT, indicating its potential to enhance patient comfort following dPDT.

Clues for Facial Perceived Age: Exercise, Sun Protection, Photoaging, and Anthropometric Properties: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The effect of environmental and genetic factors on the aging process is widely acknowledged. Yet, the extent to which each factor decisively contributes to the perception of looking younger or older remains a subject of debate. This study seeks to identify the factors linked to the perceived age among Turkish women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten assessors scored the perceived ages of 250 female patients based on facial photographs. The study aimed to assess the impact of environmental factors and anthropometric measurements on the perception of aging. A comprehensive analysis involved conducting 9 perioral and 6 periorbital anthropometric measurements on all study participants.

RESULTS

Exercise ( p = .001), mild photodamage (stage 1-2) ( p = .001), consistent sunscreen use ( p = .001), the length of the palpebral fissure ( p = .043), and the height of the upper vermilion ( p = .019) demonstrated significant associations with a more youthful appearance.

CONCLUSION

Environmental factors, including exercise, photoprotection, sunscreen use, and anthropometric measurements such as palpebral fissure length and upper vermilion height, play a significant role in contributing to a more youthful appearance.

Advances in the Application of Noninvasive Skin Imaging Techniques in Acne Scars

Acne scarring is a common sequela of acne vulgaris, which seriously affects facial esthetics. The treatment options for acne scars vary depending on the development stage, color, type, and location of scarring. The objective and precise assessment of acne scars is a prerequisite for treatment, and it is also an important means of monitoring the treatment effect. The traditional methods to evaluate the types and severity grade of acne scars are primarily based on subjective assessment by physicians, which lacks objectivity and accuracy. Novel noninvasive skin imaging techniques, such as skin surface imaging analysis systems, dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and multiphoton tomography (MPT), provide new tools for the rapid and objective assessment of acne scars. This article reviews the progress of skin imaging techniques in the diagnosis, classification, and efficacy evaluation of acne scars.

ABCD Classification of Skin Types

The classification of an individual's skin type is important because it helps dermatologists and aesthetic clinicians select the most effective methods for treating the skin. To select suitable cosmetic products and procedures that help ensure healthy and beautiful skin, clinicians must consider the patient's skin type. An individualized classification of skin types allows the clinician to develop personalized skin care recommendations that consider an individual's genetic and physiological characteristics. In the fields of dermatology and aesthetics, the classification of skin types is the basis for scientific research. Skin type classification systems are additionally important for both dermatologists and aesthetic practitioners because they influence the selection of cosmetic products, procedures, and treatments. The purpose of this paper was to provide a detailed review and evaluation of the relevance, suitability, and benefits of the new ABCD Classification of Skin Types, to compare it with other systems for classifying skin types, and to identify parameters for its improvement.

A comparative study of an advanced skin imaging system in diagnosing facial pigmentary and inflammatory conditions

Visual assessment, while the primary method for pigmentation and erythema evaluation in clinical practice, is subjective, time-consuming, and may lead to variability in observations among clinicians. Objective and quantitative techniques are required for a precise evaluation of the disease's severity and the treatment's efficacy. This research examines the precision and utility of a newly developed skin imaging system in assessing pigmentation and erythema. Sixty participants were recruited, and their facial images were analyzed with the new OBSERV 520 x skin imaging system, compared to DERMACATCH for regional analysis and VISIA for full-face examination. The degree of skin pigmentation was clinically graded using the MASI scores evaluated by dermatologists. The data revealed positive correlations between the novel skin imaging system and the two conventional instruments in quantifying pigmentation and erythema, whether in regional or full-face analysis. Furthermore, the new skin imaging system positively correlated with the clinical MASI scores (r = 0.4314, P < 0.01). In contrast, our study found no significant correlation between the traditional system and clinical assessment, indicating a more substantial capacity for hyperpigmentation assessment in the new system. Our study validates the innovative skin imaging system's accuracy in evaluating pigmentation and erythema, demonstrating its feasibility for quantitative evaluation in both clinical and research purposes.

Dendrobium officinale flowers' topical extracts improve skin oxidative stress and aging

BACKGROUND

Dendrobium officinale flowers (DOF) have the effects of antiaging and nourishing yin, but it lacks pharmacological research on skin aging.

OBJECTIVE

Confirming the role of DOF in delaying skin aging based on the "in vitro animal-human" model.

METHODS

In this experiment, three kinds of free radical scavenging experiments in vitro, D-galactose-induced aging mouse model, and human antiaging efficacy test were used to test whether DOF can improve skin aging through anti-oxidation.

RESULTS

In vitro experiment shows that DOF has certain scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, hydroxyl free radical, and superoxide free radical, and its IC50 is 0.2090 μg/mL, 15.020, and 1.217 mg/mL respectively. DOF can enhance the activities of T-AOC, SOD, CAT, and GSH Px in the serum of aging mice, increase the content of GSH, and reduce the content of MDA when administered with DOF of 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 g/kg for 6 weeks. In addition, it can enhance the activity of SOD in the skin of aging mice, increase the content of Hyp, and decrease the content of MDA, activated Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in the skin of aging mice. Applying DOF with a concentration of 0.2 g/mL on the face for 8 weeks can significantly improve the skin water score and elasticity value, reduce facial wrinkles, pores, acne, and UV spots, and improve the facial brown spots and roughness.

CONCLUSION

DOF can significantly improve skin aging caused by oxidative stress, and its mechanism may be related to scavenging free radicals in the body and improving skin quality.

Evaluation and characterization of facial skin aging using optical coherence tomography

OBJECTIVES

The skin aging exposome encompasses internal and external factors that contribute to clinical signs of facial aging. Aging skin can be characterized by distinctive features such as wrinkles, lentigines, elastosis, and roughness. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is capable of noninvasively measuring skin characteristics. This study aimed to assess bilateral features using OCT to explore temporal skin changes among decades and potential changes in facial skin aging based on laterality.

METHODS

A total of 97 subjects between 20 and 89 years old with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV were enrolled. VivoSight, a Multi-Beam OCT system intended to gather topographical and histological images of skin, was used to scan the area inferolateral to the lateral canthus, bilaterally. Investigators compared characteristics of skin roughness, attenuation coefficient and blood flow across age groups and based on laterality to determine any differences.

RESULTS

Only data from successful OCT scans were used. Seventy subjects, 10 from each specified decade, had successful bilateral scans and were thus included in the analysis. Chronological aging was characterized by significantly decreased dermal attenuation coefficient with increased age. Skin roughness measurements showed trends of increased roughness with age; however, no statistically significant changes were seen between groups. Qualitative differences amongst scans taken on right and left sides of the face showed no significance regarding roughness, density or blood flow at depths ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

OCT is an effective method for evaluating changes in aging skin. Our results illustrate a decline in skin density with chronological age. Additionally, it was illustrated that structural change in the epidermis and dermis does occur, however on a microscopic scale, there are no significant differences based on laterality. OCT holds promise as a noninvasive technique for characterization of aging skin. Its utility and application in the clinical management and treatment of aged skin requires further research; however, the technology has potential to personalize therapies based on objective findings.