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Background: The formation of free radicals in human skin by solar ultraviolet radiation is considered to be the main reason for extrinsic skin aging. The antioxidants in human tissue represent an efficient protection system against the destructive action of these reactive free radicals. In this study, the parameters of the skin, epidermal thickness, stratum corneum moisture, elasticity and wrinkle volume, were determined before and after the treatment with antioxidant- or placebo-containing tablets and creams. Methods: The study included 5 groups of 15 volunteers each, who were treated for 2 months with antioxidant-containing or placebo tablets, creams or a combination of antioxidant-containing tablets and cream. The skin parameters were measured at time point 0 and at week 8 utilizing ultrasound for the determination of epidermal thickness, a corneometer for stratum corneum moisture measurements, skin profilometry for quantifying the wrinkle volume and a cutometer for determining the elasticity. Results: The verum cream had a positive influence on epidermal thickness, elasticity and skin moisture, but the verum tablets improved the epidermal thickness only. The combined application of verum tablets and creams led to a significant improvement of all investigated skin parameters, whereas the application of placebo tablets or cream did not influence any parameters. Conclusion: The topical and oral supplementation of antioxidants can be an instrument to improve several skin parameters and potentially counteract or decelerate the process of extrinsic skin aging. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antioxidant status of the human skin provides protection against the destructive action of free radicals. Most antioxidants cannot be synthesized by the human organism itself, but have to be ingested with a healthy nutrition rich in fruit and vegetables. The Korean cuisine is known to be one of the healthiest worldwide. This binational study investigated the cutaneous carotenoid concentrations in German subjects, South Korean subjects and immigrant Korean subjects resident in Germany and examined whether dietary- and lifestyle-related differences are reflected in the cutaneous carotenoid concentrations. Methods: Measurements of the carotenoid concentrations of 714 healthy volunteers were performed using a non-invasive spectroscopic measurement system based on reflectance spectroscopy. Results: In the present study South Korean residents showed a significantly higher antioxidant status than both native German residents and Korean immigrants living in Germany (p < 0.001). The first generation of Korean immigrants to Germany over the age of 50 mostly preserved Korean dietary habits, showing significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.001) than the German-born second and third Korean generations under the age of 50. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that a healthy nutrition alone does not provide a high antioxidant status unless the stress exposure can be reduced simultaneously. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia (PPE) is an inflammatory cutaneous side effect in patients under chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), with indications that also other chemotherapeutics induce similar side effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that PLD escapes with the sweat onto the skin inducing radical-forming processes that damage the skin. The topical application of antioxidants with a high radical protection factor has proven to be a very efficient prevention strategy for PLD-treated patients. Methods: 68 patients, who had been treated with 12 different chemotherapeutics and experienced side effects similar to PPE, were treated with a meanwhile commercially available ointment. Results: At the beginning of the therapy, 46 patients suffered from a PPE of severity grade III, while in 22 patients a PPE of severity grade II was diagnosed. The application of the ointment resulted in a significant improvement of the clinical symptoms and the skin status in all these patients; their chemotherapies could be continued. Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that radical-forming processes play an essential role in a great number of chemotherapeutics which induce dermal side effects. The topical application of the antioxidant-containing ointment proved to be a good therapeutic option which needs further evaluation. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]