Efficacy of a new tonic containing urea, lactate, polidocanol, and glycyrrhiza inflata root extract in the treatment of a dry, itchy, and subclinically inflamed scalp.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dry, itchy and inflamed scalp conditions are common and often associated with diseases such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. To improve these symptoms, we investigated the efficacy of a new tonic containing the active ingredients urea, lactate, polidocanol, and Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, containing licochalcone A. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: 30 subjects with dry and itchy scalp conditions underwent a randomized half-head study for 4 weeks, applying the leave-on tonic three times a week on one side of the scalp. Tonic effects on skin hydration, itching, lipids, microinflammation, and substantivity of tonic compounds were determined using corneometry, middle-infrared spectroscopy, direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Volunteers performed a self-assessment; changes in scalp condition were documented by in vivo microscopy. RESULTS: After tonic treatment, scalp moisture was significantly increased, whereas scalp itching and tautness were significantly reduced. Results also demonstrated a high substantivity of urea and lactate on the scalp, an increase in triglyceride, and a decrease in free fatty acid levels. The amount of total lipids was unchanged. Analyses of scalp wash-ups verified a significant reduction in important pro-inflammatory markers. CONCLUSION: Due to the actives urea, lactate, polidocanol, and the anti-inflammatory licochalcone A, the new scalp tonic exhibited excellent performance in alleviating scalp dryness, itching, microinflammation, and in normalizing disturbances of scalp lipids.

A novel sampling method for identification of endogenous skin surface compounds by use of DART-MS and MALDI-MS.

Identification of endogenous skin surface compounds is an intriguing challenge in comparative skin investigations. Notably, this short communication is focused on the analysis of small molecules, e.g. natural moisturizing factor (NMF) components and lipids, using a novel sampling method with DIP-it samplers for non-invasive examination of the human skin surface. As a result, extraction of analytes directly from the skin surface by use of various solvents can be replaced with the mentioned procedure. Screening of measureable compounds is achieved by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) without further sample preparation. Results are supplemented by dissolving analytes from the DIP-it samplers by use of different solvents, and subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) measurements. An interesting comparison of the mentioned MS techniques for determination of skin surface compounds in the mass range of 50-1000 Da is presented.

Qualitative analysis of tackifier resins in pressure sensitive adhesives using direct analysis in real time time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Tackifier resins play an important role as additives in pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) to modulate their desired properties. With dependence on their origin and processing, tackifier resins can be multicomponent mixtures. Once they have been incorporated in a polymer matrix, conventional chemical analysis of tackifiers usually tends to be challenging because a suitable sample pretreatment and/or separation is necessary and all characteristic components have to be detected for an unequivocal identification of the resin additive. Nevertheless, a reliable analysis of tackifiers is essential for product quality and safety reasons. A promising approach for the examination of tackifier resins in PSAs is the novel direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) technique, which enables screening analysis without time-consuming sample preparation. In the present work, four key classes of tackifier resins were studied (rosin, terpene phenolic, polyterpene, and hydrocarbon resins). Their corresponding complex mass spectra were interpreted and used as reference spectra for subsequent analyses. These data were used to analyze tackifier additives in synthetic rubber and acrylic adhesive matrixes. To prove the efficiency of the developed method, complete PSA products containing two or three different tackifiers were analyzed. The tackifier resins were successfully identified, while measurement time and interpretation took less than 10 mins per sample. Determination of resin additives in PSAs can be performed down to 0.1% (w/w, limit of detection) using the three most abundant signals for each tackifier. In summary, DART-MS is a rapid and efficient screening method for the analysis of various tackifiers in PSAs.