Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face vary with age, but not with sex.

BACKGROUND: Adverse skin reactions to skin care products have been increasing in recent years. However, to date, these reactions have not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To describe the symptoms, clinical signs and frequency of adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face in males vs females of various ages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All outpatients diagnosed with adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face examined by dermatologists at the Dermatology Hospital of South Medical University between November 1, 2016 and October 31, 2017, employing a questionnaire and an interview, were eligible. The associations of adverse cutaneous reactions with age and sex were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 433 outpatients, accounting for 0.12% of all outpatients, were assessed. Of these, 223 patients, including 204 females and 19 males, aged 4 to 75 years, were eventually diagnosed with adverse reactions to skin care products on the face. Eighty-two per cent of patients experienced pruritus, 80% showed erythema, and 48% showed visible swelling. The incidence rates of both xerosis and oedema correlated positively with age, whereas acne-like lesions were negatively associated with age, but not with sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that pruritus, xerosis and erythema are common adverse cutaneous reactions to facial skin care products. These reactions vary with age, but not with sex. Vigorous safety testing should precede the marketing of skin care products.

[Stability of akebia saponin D in gastrointestinal contents of rats].

In order to study the stability of akebia saponin D (ASD) in biological fluids in vitro, the determination methods of ASD were established in this study. Akebia saponin D was dissolved in artificial gastric juice, intestinal juice and gastrointestinal contents of rats, respectively, then thermostatically maintained at 37 degrees C. At time intervals after degradation, samples were withdrawn and the concentrations of ASD were determined by HPLC, from which stability of it at different biological specimen was evaluated. As a result, ASD was totally degraded in large intestinal contents of rats in 8 hours. ASD was very stable in artificial gastric juice, intestinal juice and gastric contents of rats. All of the above data proved that ASD was easily degraded by coliform bacteria but stable in acid environment and with the presence of digestive enzyme.

Comparison of transepidermal water loss rates in subjects with skin patch test positive vs negative to skin care products.

BACKGROUND: Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products (SCP) are becoming increasingly common and may be indicative of defective permeability barrier function. AIM: To determine the differences in transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL) between skin patch positive vs negative to skin care products in normal Chinese females. METHODS: Skin patch test reactions to nine skin care products were assessed in 65 normal Chinese females. Correlations of cutaneous reactions to a panel of nine foreign and domestic SCP with permeability barrier function and stratum corneum (SC) hydration levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 65 subjects, 24 (37%) displayed positive reactions to one or more SCP. However, the occurrence of positive reactions to patch tests did not correlate with either transepidermal water loss rates or SC hydration levels. CONCLUSIONS: Though a substantial proportion of normal females display adverse reactions to SCP, this problem cannot be attributed to differences in the qualities of their epidermal permeability barriers, and therefore, these reactions more likely reflect the potential adverse events of the SCP themselves. However, further studies in large cohort of both males and females would be helpful to ascertain whether TEWL levels can predict cutaneous reactions to SCP.