Skin sensitivity and intolerance in Shanghai: cumulative influence of different meteorological parameters

Background: Although Sensitive skin (SS) conditions are reported to be affected by climate changes, the correlations with meteorological parameters remain mostly unclear.

Objective: To investigate the changes of facial skin conditions in different seasons in Shanghai, including the speed and severity of the influences imposed by different meteorological parameters.

Methods: Totally eighty-one healthy female volunteers completed the study in both spring (May) and summer (August). Evaluations of facial skin conditions included stimulating sensory test, clinical grading and biophysical measurements. Correlations between the meteorological parameters and ΔTEWL as well as clinical parameters were analyzed.

Results: There was no significant difference between two seasons in lactic acid sting test. The stimulation sensations felt by Vitamin B3 (VB3) containing cream was significantly higher in May than that in August. In accordance, baseline visual scores for erythema and scaliness in May were also significantly higher than those scores in August. The baseline transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value was significantly higher in May than that in August. Positive correlations were detected between ΔTEWL and atmospheric pressure on the test day, adjust 3-day and 7-day mean of daily solar radiation respectively. There were negative correlations between ΔTEWL and temperature outside on the test day, adjust 3-day mean as well as adjust 7-day mean of relative humidity.

Conclusions: Facial skin conditions in summer are better than that in spring in Shanghai. The influences from atmospheric pressure and temperature are relatively quick in speed, while the influences from relative humidity and solar radiation are slow but cumulative.     

Treatment of hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a common dermatologic condition that is seen in all skin types but is most prominent in skin of color. In skin of color, any inflammation or injury to skin can almost immediately be accompanied by alterations in pigmentation, either hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be observed in many skin conditions including acne, eczema, and contact dermatitis and treatment can be challenging. The goal is to reduce the hyperpigmentation without causing undesirable hypopigmentation or irritation in the surrounding area. This review will discuss current research on treatments for hyperpigmentation and approaches to treating this condition.     

ATR-FTIR技术在面部敏感性皮肤角质层成分分析中的应用研究

【摘要】 目的 利用衰减全反射傅里叶变化红外光谱仪（ATR-FTIR）分析敏感性皮肤与正常皮肤角质层成分的差异,探讨该技术在敏感性皮肤发生机制研究中的应用价值。方法 自2018年12月至2019年2月,招募在上海市居住 ≥ 6年的148例志愿者,通过问卷调查、乳酸刺痛试验和辣椒素试验,将受试者分为正常皮肤组和敏感性皮肤组;同时,记录乳酸刺痛试验和辣椒素试验中受试者的总刺痛评分和总灼痛评分。应用ATR-FTIR检测角质层成分,包括天然保湿因子（NMF）、角质层脂质、游离脂肪酸（FFA）和β/α比值;同时应用其他无创技术测量经表皮失水率（TEWL）、角质层含水量、角质层脂质、皮肤pH值和3种周围感觉神经纤维的电流感觉阈值和浅表皮肤血流灌注量等皮肤生理参数。分析角质层成分与总刺痛评分和总灼痛评分的Spearman相关系数,以及与皮肤生理参数的Pearson相关系数。结果 73例志愿者完成全部试验,其中敏感性皮肤组34例,男15例,女19例,年龄（41.8 ± 8.9）岁;正常皮肤组39例,男19例,女20例,年龄（42.8 ± 9.4）岁。敏感性皮肤组和正常皮肤组角质层NMF分别为30.90 ± 7.38、37.01 ± 8.77（t = 3.193,P < 0.01）,FFA分别为14.90 ± 6.75和20.45 ± 11.76（t = 2.422,P < 0.05）,β/α值分别为3.17 ± 1.03和2.67 ± 0.56（t = -2.595,P < 0.05）,角质层脂质两组差异无统计学意义（t = 1.458,P > 0.05）。皮肤生理参数中,敏感性皮肤组TEWL显著高于正常皮肤组（t = -3.496,P < 0.001）,而5 Hz电流感觉阈值和表皮致密度显著低于正常皮肤组（P < 0.05）,角质层脂质差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。相关分析显示,NMF、FFA和β/α与TEWL（r值分别为-0.405、-0.562、0.503,均P < 0.01）和总刺痛评分（rs值分别为-0.401、-0.285、0.316,P < 0.01或0.05）均呈良好的相关性,同时,表皮致密度与NMF（r = 0.402,P < 0.01）和β/α比值（r = -0.369,P < 0.05）也呈良好的相关性。但NMF、FFA和β/α与角质层脂质、3种感觉神经纤维的电流感觉阈值、浅表皮肤血流灌注量及表皮厚度之间均无相关性（均P > 0.05）。结论 敏感性皮肤与正常皮肤角质层NMF、FFA和β/α存在显著差异,且NMF、FFA和β/α与部分角质层屏障功能生理参数之间具有良好的相关性。因此,ATR-FTIR是一种有效评价敏感性皮肤屏障功能的手段。