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Background: The standard diagnostic test for allergic contact dermatitis is the patch test, which can also be used to identify irritant contact dermatitis. Doubtful reactions (?+) can be often clinically relevant to individuals and can require additional tests. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine whether autofluorescence (AF) measurements in patients with doubtful reactions are helpful in diagnosing contact dermatitis. Methods: Patients with a history of contact dermatitis were patch tested on the upper back for 48‐hours of occlusion using aqueous solutions of 5% sodium lauryl sulfate. Reaction intensity was scored, and AF was measured on reactive lesions and non‐lesions. Three dermatologists classified the results as positive or negative using the fluorescence photographs of patients with a doubtful reaction. Results: Among doubtful reactions, the R/G% values were significantly higher in the AF‐ based positive group than in the negative group (P = .0086). On the other hand, the heterogeneity values of R, G, and B (HR, HG, HB) were significantly lower in the AF‐based positive group (P = .0026,.0046,.0004 respectively). Conclusions: Measuring AF along with the clinical readings can help confirm doubtful patch test reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful delivery of a photosensitizer into the skin is an important factor for effective photodynamic therapy (PDT). The effective method to increase drug penetration within short incubation time overcoming skin barrier have been investigated. This study was performed to analyze and compare the effectiveness of ablative fractional laser (FXL) pretreatment and/or sonophoresis for enhancing the penetration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) into human skin in vivo. Twenty-four identical 1 × 1 cm2 treatment areas were mapped on the backs of ten healthy male subjects. Each area received FXL pretreatment and/or sonophoresis with different energy settings and ALA incubation times. After treatments, porphyrin fluorescence reflecting the ALA penetration were measured. Application of ablative CO2 FXL pretreatment resulted to higher fluorescence intensities than the non-treatment group. Incubation times were positively correlated with the increments of ALA penetration. However, increasing pulse energy or combining with sonophoresis did not show additional positive effects on ALA penetration. Ablative CO2 FXL pretreatment effectively facilitated ALA penetration in human skin in vivo. Ablative CO2 FXL alone without sonophoresis setting pulse energy of 10 and 20 mJ with more than 60 min of ALA incubation time could be an ideal setting for ALA penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose Various methods have been used to objectively record skin changes. However, estimating the intrinsic and extrinsic aging of skin remains a challenge. Our objective was to study intrinsic skin aging with respect to patient age and extrinsic photo-aging of human dorsal (photo-exposed) and volar (photo-protected) forearm in vivo through skin auto-fluorescence (AF). We also examined the correlations between serum antioxidant enzyme, malondialdehyde(MDA), and skin AF. Methods 37 healthy volunteers were enrolled. We measured skin AF and its heterogeneity on the dorsal and volar forearms. We also examined serum concentration of catalase, superoxide dismutase, vitamin E, and MDA levels in every participant. Results In photo-protected areas, skin AF intensity in the 40 years or older group was significantly higher compared to the group less than 40 years-old. On the other hand, heterogeneity value was significantly higher in the less than 40 years-old group in photo-protected area. With respect to serum antioxidant enzyme and MDA level, only MDA level showed a negative correlation with skin AF intensity in photo-exposed area. Conclusion We determined that skin AF intensity of the photo-protected area reflects intrinsic skin aging. In addition, degree of photo-aging could be indirectly inferred by skin AF of photo-exposed area and serum MDA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose Treatment of atopic dermatitis ( AD) and psoriasis requires their differentiation from other eczematoid dermatitis and a determination of disease severity. However, both can be clinically difficult and the findings subjectively interpreted. We investigated the utility of in vivo autofluorescence ( AF) measurements for diagnosis of both diseases, and determination of severity. Materials and methods Thirty patients with AD and 30 with psoriasis were recruited, together with sex- and age-matched patients with healthy skin. AF intensity was measured using the EcoSkin® fluorescence video dermatoscope. In AD and psoriasis patients, AF in non-sun-exposed lesional and non-lesional skin was measured. To identify the locations that reflect characteristics of AD, AF was also measured at the other sites in the patients with AD. Results AD was associated with lower AF and psoriasis with higher AF intensity peaking around 620 nm. In addition, skin AF intensity of each disease was associated with severity of lesion. Conclusions Non-invasive measurement of skin AF in vivo can aid in diagnosis of AD and psoriasis as well as in treatment monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]