Soybean-fragmented proteoglycans against skin aging.

OBJECTIVE: The majority of age-dependent skin changes happen in the dermis layer inducing changes in skin collagen and in the proteoglycans. The main aim of this work is to study the efficacy of a Proteum serum, containing soybean-fragmented proteoglycans, against skin aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro tests were performed to evaluate the Proteum serum ability on activating the production of collagen and proteoglycans. An in vivo long-term study was performed to determine the efficacy of the Proteum serum when applied on skin. Protection of healthy skin against detergent-induced dermatitis and the antioxidant properties of the applied Proteum serum were also studied. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The in vitro tests demonstrated that the Proteum serum was able to elevate the production of molecules which are essential for supporting the dermal extracellular matrix organization. These results were correlated by the in vivo measurements where a clear trend on improving the measured skin parameters due to the Proteum serum application was found. CONCLUSIONS: A beneficial effect of the Proteum serum was demonstrated with an improvement in the skin roughness and a reinforcement of the skin barrier function. Moreover, a significant protector effect on human stratum corneum against lipids peroxides (LPO) was demonstrated.

Preliminary Experience with Transdermal Oxybutynin Patches for Hyperhidrosis. / Experiencia inicial con oxibutinina transdérmica en el tratamiento de la hiperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hyperhidrosis is very common and has a considerable impact on patients' quality of life. While oral oxybutynin is associated with good response rates, adverse effects are common and frequently cause patients to stop treatment. Following the recent launch of oxybutynin in a transdermal patch formulation in Spain, we undertook a preliminary study to assess treatment response and adverse effects in patients with hyperhidrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study of 25 patients treated twice weekly with transdermal oxybutynin patches over 10 weeks assessed treatment response on 2 subjective scales: the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for sweating. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients showed an improvement in HDSS scores. VAS scores improved in all cases, and 68% of patients achieved a reduction of 3 points or more. Just 2 patients (8%) experienced treatment-related adverse effects (irritant dermatitis at the patch application site in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: Although our results are based on a small sample, they suggest that transdermal oxybutynin could be a useful option for the treatment of hyperhidrosis and that it has an excellent safety and tolerability profile.