Yin and Yang of skin microbiota in "swimmer acne".

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is an organism implicated in the pathogenesis of acne. Despite regular immersion in antimicrobial chlorine, adolescent swimmers suffer from acne and tend to be resistant to standard therapies. Given the presence of Pseudomonas within swimming facilities, we hypothesized that "swimmer acne" is potentially driven by a different microbial mechanism. In this study, we aimed to examine the microbial dynamics of C. acnes and Pseudomonadaceae, a family of gram-negative bacteria (includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa), in swimmers and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of acne in this population. Using fluorescence photography that measures the Coproporphyrin III (CPIII), we quantitated an absolute abundance of C. acnes present on the face of each participant pre- and post-swimming. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was utilized to assess relative abundance of the skin microbiota on each participant pre- and post-swimming. 16 swimmers (8 girls and 8 boys) completed the study. Seven had acne on the face. The CPIII fluorescence levels decreased for all swimmers after 1 h of swimming (p-value <0.001). In contrast, the relative abundance of C. acnes remained unchanged, while that of Pseudomonadaceae increased after swimming (p-value =0.027). Comparing the relative abundances of Pseudomonadaceae before swimming, there was a significant increase in variance from the mean in acne group as compared to no acne group (p-value <0.001). Taken together, we conclude that the skin dysbiosis resulting from repeated decolonization and colonization of C. acnes and Pseudomonadaceae, respectively, can potentially be associated with the pathogenesis of acne in swimmers.

Effects of swimming on facial sebum in adolescents.

Swimmers often complain of dry skin, consistent with decreased skin sebum levels, and yet may also have acne, which is commonly related to elevated sebum levels. Sixteen adolescent swimmers with and without acne were enrolled to examine two markers of facial sebum levels before and after 1 hour of swimming. Swimmers with acne did not have significant decreases in their sebum levels or shine measurements after swimming, whereas swimmers without acne did. Overall, swimming may remove superficial sebum more than follicular sebum and therefore leave swimmers subject to both dry skin and acne simultaneously.

Ostomy 101 for dermatologists: Managing peristomal skin diseases.

An estimated 1 million North Americans live with ostomies, with up to 80% of ostomy patients developing stoma-related skin morbidities. While ostomy nurses are often the first line of management, dermatologists may be involved in the care of ostomy patients with complex or persistent peristomal skin complications. Therefore, an understanding of the ostomy apparatus and possible peristomal skin conditions that may arise allows dermatologists to identify skin complications early and work effectively with a multidisciplinary team. In this article, we aim to review the ostomy apparatus, discuss the differential diagnoses, and provide practical guidelines for the management of peristomal skin conditions. Pubmed, Ovid Medline, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles assessing peristomal skin complications and their management. Peristomal skin complications may be local (e.g., contact dermatitis, infection, fistula, and mechanical trauma) or secondary to systemic disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, pyoderma gangrenosum, and psoriasis). Ensuring appropriate ostomy fit and proper use of ostomy accessory products helps to reduce effluent leakage and prevent damage to the peristomal skin. For persistent peristomal skin conditions, corticosteroid sprays, systemic therapies, and surgical interventions may be warranted.