Combining topical dermal infused exosomes with injected calcium hydroxylapatite for enhanced tissue biostimulation.

BACKGROUND: Exosome research continues to flourish. Subsequent knowledge surrounding indications, dose-response, safety, efficacy, and the ability to combine exosome treatment as a "skin primer"-for biostimulation modalities such as calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) is growing rapidly. The objective of this study was to develop safe, reproducible methods of improving topical exosome absorption to enhance the quality of skin either by themselves, or in combination with injectable CaHA. METHODS: Under IRB Approval (International Cell Surgical Society: ICSS-2022-007), 40 patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients underwent facial biostimulatory dermal infusion alone, to determine if this method allowed adequate exosome absorption. Five patients underwent facial biostimulatory infusion followed immediately by Dilute CaHA injection (1:1 dilution) to the face. Five patients underwent exosome biostimulatory dermal infusion followed immediately by hyperdilute CaHA (dilution 1:4) injection to the neck. Five patients underwent Facial Dilute CaHA injection (1:1 dilution) alone, without dermal infusion. Five patients underwent neck hyperdilute CaHA injection (1:4 dilution) alone, without dermal infusion. All patients had pretreatment Quantificare 3-D photo-documentation and skin analysis (Quantificare, France). In all patients, the skin was first cleansed with a gentle glycolic acid facial wash (Gregory MD). To induce a "homing inflammatory environment" for the exosomes, sea salt exfoliation was performed (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA). A nitric oxide-generating serum (N101 Pneuma Nitric Oxide, Austin, TX) was then applied to act as an enhanced vehicle for absorption. A 3 MHz ultrasound (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA) was then utilized to further deepen the absorption of the nitric oxide serum. A topical emulsion containing equal volumes (1.0 cc containing 1 million) of exosomes (Kimera Labs, Miramar, FL), 25 units of botulinum toxin (Xeomin, Merz Aesthetics, Raleigh, NC) and hyaluronic acid (Belatero, Merz Aesthetics, Raleigh, NC) was mixed via back-and-forth propulsion in a 3-cc syringe. When adequately mixed, the emulsion was then applied to the treatment areas. The cavitating ultrasound was then used to aid in the absorption of the emulsion. The patients were then treated with high-intensity LED therapy (SaltFacial®, SaltMed, Cardiff, CA), utilizing the collagen restoration preset program of combination red (660 nm) near-infrared (930 nm) wavelength for 20 min. Post-treatment Quantificare analysis was performed at 15 and 30 days after treatment. RESULTS: Without exception, all dermal infusion alone and CaHA injection alone patients showed an improvement in the tone, quality, and texture of their skin. Quantificare results showed consistent improvement in wrinkles, pores, skin evenness, improved vascularity, and a reduction in oiliness and unwanted pigment. When employed as a skin primer prior to injections (CaHA), enhanced and more rapid results were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Biostimulatory dermal infusion can be achieved utilizing topical placental mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes. These exosomes can be used alone, or mixed with ancillary ingredients such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid dermal filler, and CaHA to customize and personalize treatments based upon individual patient needs. Topical absorption is enhanced with sea salt exfoliation, a topical nitric oxide-generating serum, and 3 MHz cavitating ultrasound. Post-absorption activity is enhanced with high-intensity LED treatment. The addition of CaHA injections after the topical exosome "priming of the skin" yielded enhanced skin quality faster than exosomes or CaHA alone.

PLGA-collagen-BPNS Bifunctional composite mesh for photothermal therapy of melanoma and skin tissue engineering.

The treatment of melanoma requires not only the elimination of skin cancer cells but also skin regeneration to heal defects. To achieve this goal, a bifunctional composite scaffold of poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), collagen and black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) was prepared by hybridizing a BPNS-embedded collagen sponge with a PLGA knitted mesh. The composite mesh increased the temperature under near-infrared laser irradiation. The incorporation of BPNSs provided the PLGA-collagen-BPNS composite mesh with excellent photothermal properties for the photothermal ablation of melanoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. The PLGA-collagen-BPNS composite mesh had high mechanical strength for easy handling. The PLGA-collagen-BPNS composite mesh facilitated the proliferation of fibroblasts, promoted the expression of angiogenesis-related genes and the genes of components of the extracellular matrix for skin tissue regeneration. The high mechanical strength, photothermal ablation capability and skin tissue regeneration effects demonstrate that the bifunctional PLGA-collagen-BPNS composite mesh is a versatile and effective platform for the treatment of melanoma and the regeneration of skin defects.

Oral intake of a new full-spectrum hyaluronan improves skin profilometry and ageing: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Skin aging is a physiological condition which leads to structural and functional changes in skin. Common signs of aging are the gradual decrease of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the skin and the appearance of wrinkles. Therefore, effective HA supplementation could counteract HA deficiency and improve skin parameters, providing a safe profile for use which is easily incorporated into daily routine. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a food supplement containing a wide range of hyaluronans of different molecular weights (full-spectrum hyaluronan [FS-HA]) in order to ameliorate skin conditions in adult females. MATERIALS & METHODS: Sixty subjects showing mild-to-moderate skin aging signs were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to receive 200 mg/day of FS-HA (ExceptionHYAL® Star), or placebo, for 28 days. Dermatological parameters were evaluated at T0d and T28d. Product efficacy and tolerance were further evaluated using a self-assessment questionnaire. In addition, HA serum levels were weekly evaluated in a proportion of enrolled subjects. RESULTS: After only 28 days, subjects in the active arm showed a statistically significant improvement in all evaluated dermatological parameters related to skin aging. Skin became more hydrated (+10.6%) and protected from dehydration, with a decrease in both wrinkle depth (-18.8%) and volume (-17.6%) and increase in elasticity and firmness (+5.1%). Instrumental results were further confirmed by self-assessment questionnaire outcomes. CONCLUSION: Administration of a food supplement based on innovative hyaluronans from bio-fermentation, characterized by a wide range of molecular weights, resulted in a quick and significant amelioration of typical signs of skin aging.

Dietary Ceramide Prepared from Soy Sauce Lees Improves Skin Barrier Function in Hairless Mice.

Dietary sphingolipids such as glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin are known to improve the skin barrier function of damaged skin. In this study, we focused on free-ceramide prepared from soy sauce lees, which is a byproduct of soy sauce production. The effects of dietary soy sauce lees ceramide on the skin of normal mice were evaluated and compared with those of dietary maize glucosylceramide. We found that transepidermal water loss value was significantly suppressed by dietary supplementation with soy sauce lees ceramide as effectively as or more effectively than maize glucosylceramide. Although the content of total and each subclass of ceramide in the epidermis was not significantly altered by dietary sphingolipids, that of 12 types of ceramide molecules, which were not present in dietary sources, was significantly increased upon ingestion of maize glucosylceramide and showed a tendency to increase with soy sauce lees ceramide intake. In addition, the mRNA expression of ceramide synthase 4 and involucrin in the skin was downregulated by sphingolipids. This study, for the first time, demonstrated that dietary soy sauce lees ceramide enhances skin barrier function in normal hairless mice, although further studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanism.

TGF-ß loaded exosome enhances ischemic wound healing in vitro and in vivo.

Rationale: With over seven million infections and $25 billion treatment cost, chronic ischemic wounds are one of the most serious complications in the United States. The controlled release of bioactive factor enriched exosome from finbrin gel was a promising strategy to promote wound healing. Methods: To address this unsolved problem, we developed clinical-grade platelets exosome product (PEP), which was incorporate with injectable surgical fibrin sealant (TISSEEL), to promote chronic wound healing and complete skin regeneration. The PEP characterization stimulated cellular activities and in vivo rabbit ischemic wound healing capacity of TISSEEL-PEP were performed and analyzed. Results: PEP, enriched with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), possessed exosomal characteristics including exosome size, morphology, and typical markers including CD63, CD9, and ALG-2-interacting protein X (Alix). In vitro, PEP significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, tube formation, as well as skin organoid formation. Topical treatment of ischemic wounds with TISSEEL-PEP promoted full-thickness healing with the reacquisition of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Superior to untreated and TISSEEL-only treated controls, TISSEEL-PEP drove cutaneous healing associated with collagen synthesis and restoration of dermal architecture. Furthermore, PEP promoted epithelial and vascular cell activity enhancing angiogenesis to restore blood flow and mature skin function. Transcriptome deconvolution of TISSEEL-PEP versus TISSEEL-only treated wounds prioritized regenerative pathways encompassing neovascularization, matrix remodeling and tissue growth. Conclusion: This room-temperature stable, lyophilized exosome product is thus capable of delivering a bioactive transforming growth factor beta to drive regenerative events.

From Inflammation to Cutaneous Repair: Topical Application of Lupeol Improves Skin Wound Healing in Rats by Modulating the Cytokine Levels, NF-κB, Ki-67, Growth Factor Expression, and Distribution of Collagen Fibers.

Skin wound healing is a highly complex event that involves different mediators at the cellular and molecular level. Lupeol has been reported to possess different biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and in vitro wound healing properties, which motivated us to proceed with in vivo studies. We aimed to investigate the wound healing effect of lupeol-based cream for 3, 7, and 14 days. Wound excisions were induced on the thoraco-lumbar region of rats and topically treated immediately after injury induction. Macroscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA and gene expression was evaluated by real-time RT-qPCR. Our results showed a strong wound-healing effect of lupeol-based cream after 7 and 14 days. Lupeol treatment caused a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1ß, and IL-6) and gene and protein NF-κB expression, and positively altered IL-10 levels, showing anti-inflammatory effects in the three treatment periods. Lupeol treatment showed involvement in the proliferative phase by stimulating the formation of new blood vessels, increasing the immunostaining of Ki-67 and gene expression, and immunolabeling of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), and increasing gene expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1) after seven days of treatment. Lupeol was also involved in the tissue regeneration phase by increasing the synthesis of collagen fibers noted in the three treatment periods analyzed. Our findings suggest that lupeol may serve as a novel therapeutic option to treat cutaneous wounds by regulating mechanisms involved in the inflammatory, proliferative, and tissue-remodeling phases.

The Effect of Sunflower Seed and Almond Oil on Preterm Infant Skin: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sunflower seed oil (SSO) and almond oil (AO) on stratum corneum hydration and Neonatal Skin Condition Scores (NSCSs) of preterm infants. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial recruited 90 preterm infants whose gestational ages were between 32 and 37 weeks in the neonatal ICU. Infants were randomly assigned to three groups (SSO, AO, or control). The oils were applied to the whole body of each infant except for the head and face by a nurse researcher four times a day (4 mL/kg) for 5 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Skin condition of the infants as evaluated with the NSCS; hydration as measured by a skin moisture meter before and after application. MAIN RESULTS: When average stratum corneum hydration was compared, infants in the SSO and AO groups had better hydration than infants in the control group. The NSCS scores in the control group were significantly higher than in the intervention groups, but there was no difference between the SSO and AO groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither SSO nor AO has harmful effects on the skin, and their use may improve stratum corneum hydration. These oils can be used by nurses to hydrate the skin of preterm infants. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of natural oils on infant skin.

Effect of Porcine Placenta Extract Supplement on Skin Condition in Healthy Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

Placenta extract has been used as a component of ointments for skin dryness and beautification. However, little is known about the effect of oral intake of placenta extract on skin condition. The current study aimed to clinically explore the effect of oral intake of porcine placenta extract on human skin quality. A randomized controlled double-blind trial was performed on healthy women aged 40-59 years (n = 20), who were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or 200 mg of porcine placenta extract once daily for 4 weeks from 28 January 2019 to 25 February 2019. Skin quality parameters and the Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI) were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, three parameters of skin quality were significantly improved in the porcine placenta group compared with the placebo group. These results suggest that porcine placenta extract can be used as a health food ingredient to maintain humans' skin condition in the dry winter season.

The potential role of cannabinoids in dermatology.

Cannabis is increasingly being used world-wide to treat a variety of dermatological conditions. Medicinal cannabis is currently legalized in Canada, 31 states in America and 19 countries in Europe. The authors reviewed the literature on the pharmacology and use of cannabinoids in treating a variety of skin conditions including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, skin cancer, pruritus, and pain. Cannabinoids have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, anti-ageing, and antimalignancy properties by various mechanisms including interacting with the newly found endocannabinoid system of the skin thereby providing a promising alternative to traditional treatments.

Impact of sunflower seed oil versus mustard seed oil on skin barrier function in newborns: a community-based, cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Natural vegetable oils are widely used for newborn massage in many low resource settings. Animal models indicated that sunflower seed oil (SSO) can accelerate skin barrier recovery following damage, while other oils, including mustard oil (MO), may cause further skin barrier damage. The objective was to compare the effects of two SSO and MO used for routine massage on skin integrity in premature and full-term neonates. METHODS: This community-based cluster randomized controlled trial included 995 neonates assigned to full body massage with sunflower seed oil (SSO, intervention) or mustard seed oil (MO, standard practice) from July 2012-May 2014 in Sarlahi, Nepal. Skin integrity measures were evaluated over 28 days, including skin condition (erythema, rash, dryness), skin surface pH, stratum corneum (SC) cohesion/protein concentration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Overall means and rates of change in these skin measures were compared between oil groups using bivariate random-effects models. RESULTS: 500 and 495 live born neonates received repeated massage with MO and SSO, respectively. Skin pH decreased more quickly for SSO than MO in the first week of life, with a difference in mean daily reductions of 0.02 (95% CI: 0.002-0.040). Erythema, rash and dryness increased (worsened) over days 1-14 then decreased by day 28, with no significant oil group differences. TEWL increased over time, with no significant oil group differences. Gestational age did not modify the effect; the slightly faster decrease in skin pH among SSO infants was similar in magnitude between term and preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: Oil type may contribute to differences in skin integrity when neonates are massaged regularly. The more rapid acid mantle development observed for SSO may be protective for neonates in lower resource settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01177111); registered August 6th, 2010.

Modulation of the Lipid Profile of Reconstructed Skin Substitutes after Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation Affects Testosterone Permeability.

Skin models with efficient skin barrier function are required for percutaneous absorption studies. The contribution of media supplementation with n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to the development of the skin barrier function of in vitro skin models remains incompletely understood. To investigate whether PUFAs, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, n-3 PUFA) and linoleic acid (LA, n-6 PUFA), could enhance the impermeability of a three-dimensional reconstructed human skin model, skin substitutes were produced according to the self-assembly method using culture media supplemented with either 10 µM ALA or 10 µM LA. The impact of PUFAs on skin permeability was studied by using a Franz cell diffusion system to assess the percutaneous absorption of testosterone and benzoic acid. Our findings showed that ALA supplementation induced a decrease in the absorption of testosterone, while LA supplementation did not significantly influence the penetration of testosterone and benzoic acid under present experimental conditions. Both ALA and LA were incorporated into phospholipids of the skin substitutes, resulting in an increase in n-3 total PUFAs or n-6 total PUFAs. Collectively, these results revealed the under-estimated impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation as well as the importance of the n-6 to n-3 ratio on the formation of the skin barrier of in vitro reconstructed human skin models.

An injectable thermosensitive hydrogel for sustained release of apelin-13 to enhance flap survival in rat random skin flap.

With the advantage of handy process, random pattern skin flaps are generally applied in limb reconstruction and wound repair. Apelin-13 is a discovered endogenous peptide, that has been shown to have potent multiple biological functions. Recently, thermosensitive gel-forming systems have gained increasing attention as wound dressings due to their advantages. In the present study, an apelin-13-loaded chitosan (CH)/ß-sodium glycerophosphate (ß-GP) hydrogel was developed for promoting random skin flap survival. Random skin flaps were created in 60 rats after which the animals were categorized to a control hydrogel group and an apelin-13 hydrogel group. The water content of the flap as well as the survival area were then measured 7 days post-surgery. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the flap angiogenesis. Cell differentiation 34 (CD34) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Oxidative stress was estimated via the activity of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Our results showed that CH/ß-GP/apelin-13 hydrogel could not only reduce the tissue edema, but also improve the survival area of flap. CH/ß-GP/apelin-13 hydrogel also upregulated levels of VEGF protein and increased mean vessel densities. Furthermore, CH/ß-GP/apelin-13 hydrogel was shown to significantly inhibit the expression of TNF-α and IL-6, along with increasing the activity of SOD and suppressing the MDA content. Taken together, these results indicate that this CH/ß-GP/apelin-13 hydrogel may be a potential therapeutic way for random pattern skin flap.

The Impact of Herbal Products in the Prevention, Regeneration and Delay of Skin Aging.

Skin aging is a complex process induced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors and causes alterations to the structural and functional aspects of the skin. Skin aging affects patients physically and physiologically. Understanding the process of skin aging can provide new knowledge on how to attenuate or reduce skin disorder symptoms. Herbs have been used for ages to prevent and treat skin aging, yet there are growing interests by researchers in this field globally. Various strategies have been developed for improving the quality and effectivity of herbal skin care products, both for topical and oral applications. This review will provide an overview of the relationship between herbal skin care products and the skin aging process.

Dermocosmetic emulgels for anti-aging effects: Evidence from chromatographic and non-invasive biophysical techniques.

Persimmon Fruits (Diospyros kaki L.f, Ebenaceae) and its active principles have long been used in traditional medicines for various cosmetics and skin conditions, however clinical efficacy on various facial skin parameters like roughness, scaliness, hydration, elasticity and wrinkles have not yet been reported. Current study was aimed to analyse polyphenolic constituents of Diospyros kaki fruit extract (DKFE) and to clinically evaluate dermocosmetic emulgels loaded with bioactive phytoconstituents from persimmon fruits, using non-invasive in-vivo evaluation techniques. HPLC analysis established the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumeric acid, catechin and cinnamic acid. Results revealed that test formulation produced significant and control showed insignificant (p>0.05) effects on moisture contents and elasticity. Surface evaluation of living skin (SELS) index values were reduced significantly (p<0.05) for the emulgels loaded with DKFE, represented by reduction in skin wrinkles (-12.40%), roughness (-11.76%) and scaliness (-18.59%). Conclusively, a safe and compatible dermocosmetic emulgel formulation loaded with antioxidant enriched DKFE, revealed promising anti-aging attributes that may be due to presence of vital polyphenolic constituents as presented by HPLC analysis.

Nanoscaled pearl powder accelerates wound repair and regeneration in vitro and in vivo.

Pearl powder has been used to treat many diseases like palpitations, insomnia, and epilepsy for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. It has demonstrated antioxidant, antiaging, antiradiative, and tonic activities. Pearl powder contains multiple active proteins, which are nutritious for skin cells and might be advantageous for wound repair and regeneration. However, its healing effect in vivo was not reported yet. This study aims to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanism of the pearl powders with different particle sizes in wound treatment. Briefly, the pearl powder with different sizes was characterized for their particle sizes and morphology. The protein release profiles of these powders were also studied. The influence of the different size of pearl powder in the proliferation, migration of skin cells was evaluated. Then, with the rat skin excision model, the effect of pearl powder on wound repair and regeneration was investigated. It was demonstrated that, all the micro and nanosized pearl powders could both increase the proliferation and migration of skin cells and accelerate the wound closure, as well as significantly enhanced the biomechanic strength of the healed skins. Moreover, the pearl powder treatment could improve the formation and regular deposition of collagen, and enhance the skin angiogenesis. Among all these in vitro and in vivo investigations, nanoscale pearl powder expressed the highest efficiency for healing. The mechanism might be contributed to the increased release of active proteins, enhanced tissue attachment, and the increased cellular uptake for the nano powder at the topical site.

An evaluation of the antiaging properties of strawberry hydrolysate treatment enriched with L-ascorbic acid applied with microneedle mesotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Mature skin is characterized by a loss of elasticity, hyperpigmentation, and dehydration. L-ascorbic acid stimulates the synthesis of collagen type I, inhibits melanogenesis, and helps to maintain correct skin hydration. Combining microneedle mesotherapy with the application of preparations rich in vitamin C results in better therapeutic effects due to the improved absorption of active substances. The study evaluates the effectiveness of the application of strawberry hydrolysate enriched with L-ascorbic acid using microneedle mesotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen volunteers aged 45-70 years underwent a series of four microneedle mesotherapy treatments with vitamin C serum, performed every 10 days. The 20% L-ascorbic acid solution (pH = 3.5) was prepared immediately before application. After the treatment, the participants gave a subjective assessment of the effectiveness. Cutometer® was used to measure skin elasticity and firmness, Corneometer® to measure skin hydration, and Mexameter® skin tone. RESULTS: The results of the survey showed improvements in skin hydration and elasticity. In vivo studies confirmed the effectiveness of serum and the impact of the active substance on skin firmness and elasticity, the degree of hydration and skin tone. CONCLUSION: Microneedling with vitamin C improves skin tone, hydratation and firmness, and decreases the visibility of hyperpigmentation.

Improvement of skin barrier dysfunction by Scutellaria baicalensis GEOGI extracts through lactic acid fermentation.

BACKGROUND: The development of an alternative medicine to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) from natural sources is necessary. AIMS: To improve skin barrier dysfunction by enhancing the differentiation of human keratinocytes with the fermented Scutellaria baicalensis. METHODS: Scutellaria baicalensis was fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and extracted with 70% ethanol (FE). Antioxidant activities and the regulation of the gene expression related to keratinocyte differentiation were measured as well as its proliferation. RESULT: This work first proved that the FE had multiple activities, both increasing keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation: The FE greatly up-regulated expression of the genes of keratinocyte differentiation such as involucrin, keratin 10, and transglutaminase-1 (TG-1) up to 4.06-fold, which was 3 times higher than the 2 other extracts. The effect of baicalein on keratinocyte differentiation was also first found; however, its efficacy was lower than that of the fermented extract. The FE proved to effectively accelerate keratinocyte differentiation, rather than to initiate the differentiation, and also showed an ability of stimulating keratinocyte proliferation up to 2.8 × 106 viable cells/mL as well as 70.24 ng/mL of collagen production in fibroblasts. High efficacy of the FE was confirmed by synergistic effects of large amounts of various bioactive substances in the extracts as baicalein alone did not show remarkable effects and even positive controls had not much better activities than the FE. CONCLUSION: The fermented extract was able to improve skin barrier dysfunction, and the ointment with 1%-5% (v/v) of the extract be directly used for skin clinical trials to treat AD.

In vivo efficacy and properties of semisolid formulations containing panthenol.

BACKGROUND: Panthenol is an active substance used in dermatology to protect the health of the skin, to treat defects in the morphology of the stratum corneum. In cosmetology, hydrating, softening, and barrier function of panthenol are utilized. Detailed studies evaluating the efficacy of panthenol in cosmetic and pharmaceutical semisolid formulations and establishing its optimum concentration are needed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether an addition of 5-13 wt% panthenol in o/w and w/o emulsions increases hydration and supports the barrier properties of the skin. Rheological properties and sensory analysis of prepared formulations are supplemented. METHODS: Noninvasive instrumental methods in vivo were used. The hydration and barrier effect of semisolid formulations on the skin were observed for 48 hour; testing was conducted on 40 women. The effect was compared with formulations without any content of panthenol. The rheological and organoleptic properties of the formulations were evaluated. RESULTS: After applying either form of the formulations containing 7-11 wt% of panthenol hydration of the skin increased, transepidermal water loss decreased. pH of the skin shifted toward neutral after application of tested formulations. The rheological properties of the formulations were influenced by the type of vehicle, the amount of panthenol, and temperature. Sensory evaluation of both semisolid forms revealed statistically significant differences in o/w formulations with regard to spreadability. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of panthenol in an o/w and w/o semisolid formulations significantly enhances skin barrier repair and hydration of the stratum corneum. Better vehicle for the active substance as regards hydration proved o/w formulations.

Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Dietary Supplementation with Turmeric or Herbal Combination Tablets on Skin Barrier Function in Healthy Subjects.

To compare the effects of turmeric tablets and turmeric-containing herbal combination tablets versus placebo on skin barrier function and sebum production by measuring facial sebum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in healthy subjects. This study was a prospective, double-blinded, rater-blinded, randomized pilot study. Thirty-three generally healthy participants were recruited from the UC Davis Department of Dermatology clinic and the surrounding community from 2016 to 2017, 30 participants were enrolled, and 28 participants completed the study. Thirty individuals were recruited and randomized to the placebo, turmeric, or herbal combination tablet groups. The participants were instructed to take the intervention tablets by mouth twice daily for 4 weeks. Facial sebum production and TEWL were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks. Twenty-eight participants completed the study and there were no adverse events. There were no significant changes in sebum excretion rate in any group after 4 weeks compared with baseline. In the herbal combination tablet group, there was a significant decrease in TEWL (P = .003). No significant changes in TEWL were detected in the turmeric or placebo groups. Turmeric-containing herbal combination tablets significantly decreased TEWL after 4 weeks of twice-daily supplementation. There were no adverse events in any of the three intervention arms. Overall, our findings spark future interest in determining how oral supplementation with herbal formulations may improve skin barrier function and skin appearance, and potentially offer alternative or complementary treatment options.