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Background and Objectives: Good scar management in burn care is essential. Nevertheless, there are no consistent recommendations regarding moisturizers for scar management. Our aim was to investigate and compare the effects of commonly used products on normal skin and burn scars. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 skin-healthy (control group) and 12 patients with burn scars were included in this study. For an intraindividual comparison, each participant received creams consisting of dexpanthenol (P), aloe vera (A), and a natural plant oil (O) with instructions to apply them daily to a previously defined area for at least 28 days. Objective scar evaluation was performed with Visioscan®; Tewameter®; Cutometer®, and the Oxygen To See® device. Subjective evaluation was performed with an "application" questionnaire, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and with the "best of three" questionnaire. Results: After (A) a high trend of amelioration of +30%, TEWL was detected on the scar area. Blood flow increased slightly on healthy skin areas after (A) application to +104%. The application of (A) on healthy skin demonstrated a positive effect on the parameters of scaliness (+22%, p < 0.001), softness (+14%, p = 0.046), roughness R1 (+16%, p < 0.001) and R2 (+17%, p = 0.000), volume (+22%, p < 0.001), and surface area (+7%, p < 0.001) within the control group. After (P), a significant improvement of the baseline firmness parameter of +14.7% was detected (p = 0.007). (P) also showed a beneficial effect on the parameters of R1 (+7%, p = 0.003), R2 (+6%, p = 0.001), and volume (+17%, p = 0.001). (O) lead to a statistically significant improvement of volume (+15%, p = 0.009). Overall, most study participants stated (A) to be the "best of three". Conclusions: (A) performed statistically best, and is a well-tolerated moisturizing product. However, further quantitative studies are needed to provide statistically significant clarification for uniform recommendations for scar therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muhammed Majeed,1,2 Kalyanam Nagabhushanam,2 Shaji Paulose,1 HR Rajalakshmi,1 Lakshmi Mundkur1 1Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Karnataka, 560 058, India; 2Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ, 08520, USACorrespondence: Lakshmi Mundkur, Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited, 19/1& 19/2, I Main, II Phase, Peenya Industrial Area, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 058, India, Fax +91 8068527706, Email lakshmi@sami-sabinsagroup.comPurpose: There has been a growing interest in the use of probiotics and their products for skin care, over the last decade. LactoSporin is the extracellular metabolite of a spore-forming probiotic Bacillus coagulans (Weizmannia coagulans) MTCC 5856, with antimicrobial and skin protecting activity.Patients and Methods: The anti-skin-aging potential of LactoSporin was evaluated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in healthy female participants (70 screened and 56 randomized). The participants applied either LactoSporin or matched placebo formulation (N=28 in each group) for 10 weeks, and the effects were assessed by dermatological, and non-invasive instrument-based evaluation using Antera, Cutometer, Corneometer, and Tewameter. All the 56 participants completed the study and were included for the analysis.Results: The regular use of LactoSporin cream for 10 weeks showed a significant reduction in visibility of wrinkles around crow’s feet, nasolabial folds, frown lines, and facial fine lines compared to baseline and placebo by dermatological and Antera assessments. LactoSporin showed improvement in skin elasticity and hydration by dermatological assessments, but the effect was not significantly different from placebo when assessed by Cutometer, Corneometer, and Tewameter. No adverse events or skin irritation was observed in any participants during the study.Conclusion: These results suggest that LactoSporin could be a safe natural ingredient to reduce wrinkles and fine lines in cosmetic formulations.Keywords: LactoSporin, safety, dermatological assessments, corneometer, tewameter, cutometer

Background and Objectives: Good scar management in burn care is essential. Nevertheless, there are no consistent recommendations regarding moisturizers for scar management. Our aim was to investigate and compare the effects of commonly used products on normal skin and burn scars. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 skin-healthy (control group) and 12 patients with burn scars were included in this study. For an intraindividual comparison, each participant received creams consisting of dexpanthenol (P), aloe vera (A), and a natural plant oil (O) with instructions to apply them daily to a previously defined area for at least 28 days. Objective scar evaluation was performed with Visioscan®; Tewameter®; Cutometer®, and the Oxygen To See® device. Subjective evaluation was performed with an “application” questionnaire, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and with the “best of three” questionnaire. Results: After (A) a high trend of amelioration of +30%, TEWL was detected on the scar area. Blood flow increased slightly on healthy skin areas after (A) application to +104%. The application of (A) on healthy skin demonstrated a positive effect on the parameters of scaliness (+22%, p < 0.001), softness (+14%, p = 0.046), roughness R1 (+16%, p < 0.001) and R2 (+17%, p = 0.000), volume (+22%, p < 0.001), and surface area (+7%, p < 0.001) within the control group. After (P), a significant improvement of the baseline firmness parameter of +14.7% was detected (p = 0.007). (P) also showed a beneficial effect on the parameters of R1 (+7%, p = 0.003), R2 (+6%, p = 0.001), and volume (+17%, p = 0.001). (O) lead to a statistically significant improvement of volume (+15%, p = 0.009). Overall, most study participants stated (A) to be the “best of three”. Conclusions: (A) performed statistically best, and is a well-tolerated moisturizing product. However, further quantitative studies are needed to provide statistically significant clarification for uniform recommendations for scar therapy.

Summary: Background: Topical applications of alpha‐hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids in the form of peels gained popularity. To enhance the effect of these substances, aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion can be used in one procedure. Aims: The assessment of skin hydration, elasticity, and TEWL after using lactobionic acid in the form of 20% peel and lactobionic acid in the form of 20% peel combined with aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion. Material and methods: The study involved 20 Caucasian female subjects. Six treatments were performed at weekly intervals, using the Split face method—20% LA was used on the left side of the face and aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion followed by 20% LA application on the right side of the face. Results: Corneometric measurement showed statistically significant differences between the hydration level for sessions 1 and 3 and 1 and 6. A higher hydration level was found on the side with the combined procedure. Tewametric measurement showed that the TEWL values were different for sessions 1 and 3 and 1 and 6—they decreased. There were no statistically significant differences between the two procedures. The cutometric measurement indicated statistically significant differences between skin elasticity for pairs in session 1 and 3 and 1 and 6. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that the combination of LA peel with microdermabrasion increases its moisturizing effect and improves skin elasticity. The use of both procedures also contributed to the decrease in TEWL; however, greater exfoliation of the epidermis in combined procedures resulted in slightly higher TEWL values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is a physiological characteristic to measure the efficiency of the skin barrier. The aim was to investigate the reliability of the Tewameter TM300 for the assessment of TEWL (g/m2/h) in burn scars. Also the relation between TEWL scar values and scar quality parameters was investigated. Three different study areas (scar, healthy adjacent and contralateral skin) were assessed in 55 adult patients. The intra- and inter-observer reliability were tested using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). The inter-observer reliability for the three areas was excellent with ICC values between 0.85 and 0.94. SEM values were between 1.76 and 3.97g/m2/h. Bland-Altman plots showed relatively wide LoA values for scar and healthy skin. Mean TEWL scar values were significantly higher than healthy skin (p<0.001). Significant correlations were found between TEWL hypertrophic scar values and erythema (r=0.60, p=0.001) and a negative correlation for weeks after burn (r=-0.61, p=0.001). TEWL values were significantly different between 3 and 6 months and 3 and 12 months old scars (respectively p=0.021 and p=0.002). To evaluate the skin barrier function over time as a measure for scar maturation, Tewameter TM300 measurements have to be performed according to strict and standardized protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the changes in skin barrier function in human subjects, following long-term topical application of Hippophae rhamnoides oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion whereas effects were measured using non- invasive probes like tewameter and comeometer. For this purpose, two stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were formulated one with 5% Hippophae rhamnoides extract and other without extracts. Thirteen healthy, male subjects with a mean age 27 ± 4.8 years were enrolled after their informed consents. The subjects were instructed to apply either the active formulation or the base formulation over 84 days while they were not known with the contents of either formulation. Biometrological measurements of skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were performed on both sides of the face in each volunteer at baseline and on day 07, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84. The statistical analysis revealed formulation with 5% plant extract was superior compared to placebo (base formulation) as formulation with extract have shown extremely significant improvements in skin hydration (p=0.0003) and TEWL (p=0.0087) throughout treatment course. Moreover, a significant (p<0.05) correlation between the active formulation and the improvement of the skin barrier functions was observed. The active formulation found to be superior to that of placebo. Results affirmed that future studies are necessary to clinically evaluate the active formulation hence it can be proposed that Hippophae rhamnoides emulsion could be an alternative pharmacological tool in treating barrier compromised conditions of skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The suitability of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements in vitro as a barrier integrity test for human heat separated epidermis (HSE) was investigated. A model system consisting of a Teflon membrane mounted in Franz diffusion cells (FDC) filled with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was set up. The membrane was used intact and punctured with a needle (up to five holes). After each puncturing the TEWL was measured. Only the TEWL of intact and punctured membrane differed significantly regardless of the number of holes. From three donators intact human HSE and punctured HSE were compared and no significant difference of the TEWL was found. Permeation experiments with flufenamic acid (FFA) showed a significantly higher diffusion rate through punctured HSE. TEWL and drug permeation were compared for skin stripped three, seven and 15 times prior to heat separation to an intact control group. Only the TEWL values of intact HSE and HSE stripped 15 times differed significantly. However, seven and 15 times stripping resulted in significantly higher diffusion rate. In conclusion, TEWL measurements can detect severe damage of the stratum corneum (SC) but not small changes, which nevertheless may already influence drug diffusion. Therefore, TEWL measurements appears to be of limited use as a barrier integrity test for human HSE in in vitro test systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background/aims: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is an important parameter for the determination of skin barrier function. The open chamber method has been established as the technique of choice in most dermatological laboratories for measurements of TEWL. However, the influence of the probe temperature on TEWL measurements has been the subject of recent controversial debates. In this study the relationship between TEWL measured with the Tewameter and temperature of the measuring probe was therefore investigated by comparing two different measuring techniques., Methods: For one measurement, the probe was kept at room temperature (20°C) and for the other one, the probe was preheated to the actual temperature of the measuring object before obtaining the values. Measurements were performed on evaporative standards (EvSs) and healthy individuals. For the EvSs, semipermeable membranes were pulled over a petri dish filled with water, which could be heated., Results: TEWL values were found to depend on the temperature of the probe. TEWL values were higher when measured with the preheated probe. However, long-term measurements revealed that TEWL values measured with the unheated probe reached those higher TEWL values after approximately 8 min measuring time., Conclusions: The final TEWL value was reached after shorter intervals for the preheated probe compared to the unheated probe (2.5 min vs. 4 min) for some measurements. However, preheating of the probe resulted in greater variability of the measurement values. Therefore, measurements with a preheated Tewameter probe is not be recommended.