Effect of work-related ultraviolet exposure and ophthalmic changes in Austrian farmers: the SVB-UV study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological screening to examine possible ultraviolet-induced ocular changes and pathologies in Austrian farmers. METHODS: The study was performed on behalf of the Austrian farmer insurance (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Bauern). Randomly selected farmers and office workers as controls, both at the age of 35-55 years, underwent ophthalmic screening examinations. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examinations by slit lamp examination and Schirmer's test 1. A survey, regarding personal habits in the sun, was also conducted. RESULTS: Three hundred and ninety-two subjects underwent ophthalmic examinations of whom 297 were farmers and 95 were controls. Due to the survey, 89.7% of the farmers claimed to protect themselves from the sun during work. From these subjects, 83.7% wear a head protection, 71.0% wear sunglasses, and 54.4% usually work in the shade. There were significant differences in lid (p = 0.021) and conjunctival pathologies (p < 0.0001) between farmers and controls. CONCLUSION: Austrian farmers are at a higher risk for developing lid and conjunctival tumours which require treatment at some point. We believe that the study group was too young to show significant differences within the lens and the posterior pole. A 5-year follow-up is planned.

Skin aging and sex hormones in women -- clinical perspectives for intervention by hormone replacement therapy.

The skin, the largest organ of the body, is the organ in which changes associated with aging are most visible. The skin is a target organ for various hormones, and sex steroids have a profound influence on the aging process. A decrease in sex steroids thus induces a reduction of those skin functions that are under hormonal control. Keratinocytes, Langerhans' cells, melanocytes, sebaceous glands, collagen content and the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, for example, are under hormonal influence. Topical application of estrogens has a positive effect on skin aging parameters, whilst numerous studies have also shown the positive influence of systemic hormone replacement therapy on skin aging. As an alternative treatment, phytohormones may be administered, with the structural similarity to 17beta-estradiol explaining their estrogen-like effects. However, isoflavonoids exhibit an inferior biological potency to synthetic estrogens. Although a large number of publications have documented the effects of sex hormones on the aging process, it is obvious that hormone replacement should not be administered as an independent treatment for skin aging.

Comparison of epidermal hydration and skin surface lipids in healthy individuals and in patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: The water content of the stratum corneum and skin surface lipids are important factors in the appearance and function of the skin. A disruption of the balance between the two may lead to the clinical manifestation of dryness of skin in patients with atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine the so-called dry skin of patients with atopic dermatitis using objective parameters. We compared the epidermal hydration and the skin surface lipids, the so-called hydro-lipid film, of the clinically unaffected skin of patients suffering from atopic dermatitis with that of healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 48 patients of either gender were included in this retrospective case-control study. We used the Corneometer CM 820 (Courage+Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Cologne, Germany) and the Sebumeter SM 810 (Courage+Khazaka Electronic GmbH) as noninvasive measuring methods. RESULTS: The results showed marked decreases in the atopic dermatitis group for both the Corneometer and Sebumeter measuring methods. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the dry skin of patients with atopic dermatitis, as previously shown, is due not only to a decrease in skin moisture but also to a reduction of skin lipids. This finding gives rise to a new understanding of the condition, and therefore one should always speak of a hydro-lipid film.