Long-wavelength ultraviolet A (UVA-1) phototherapy for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis

One of the methods of therapy for atopic dermatitis is long-wavelength ultraviolet therapy A (UVA-1- therapy). This review aims to provide the mechanisms of action of UVA-1-therapy an overview about the effectiveness of UVA-1-therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis taking into account factors that can affect the effectiveness of treatment radiation dose, skin phototype of patients, concomitant drug therapy. The available data on a decrease in the severity of atopic dermatitis as a result of the course of UVA-1-therapy and on a decrease in the severity of itching in patients are presented. The data on the rate of onset of the therapeutic effect of UVA-1-therapy and the duration of its maintenance are considered. The safety of UVA-1-therapy is discussed, and the most frequent undesirable effects a feeling of warmth, fever, itching, hyperpigmentation, are given. The possibility of developing side effects requiring discontinuation of treatment is assessed. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness and safety of the UFA-1-radiation in the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Risk factors for actinic cheilitis: A meta-analysis

Background. Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a potentially malignant disorder characterized by chronic lip inflammation, especially the lower lip, associated with accumulative exposure to solar radiation. The present study aimed to assess the possible risk factors related to AC. Methods. A search for studies on AC risk factors was conducted in the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library), Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar. For dichotomous outcomes, the estimates of the effects of intervention were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) using Mantel-Haenszel (M-H) method, and for continuous outcomes, the estimates of the effects of intervention were expressed as mean difference (MD) using the inverse variance (IV) method, both with 95% confidence intervals. Results. Twelve studies were considered in this meta-analysis. The factors from the highest to lowest risk of AC were having a low skin phototype (OR: 3.30), age >50 years (OR: 3.01), having high sun exposure, cumulative throughout life (OR: 2.13) as daily (OR: 2.00), being male (OR: 1.78), and being a drinker (OR: 1.56) or smoker (OR: 1.32). However, the use of sunscreen creams and caps/hats to protect against the sun were factors with no significant influence on the AC risk. Conclusion. Chronic sun exposure in subjects with low skin phototypes is the main risk factor for AC.

Photodynamic reparative skin regeneration using application of photosensitizer gel based on chlorin e6

The results of a study of the clinical effectiveness of the correction of involutional changes in the skin by the method of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the use of a photosensitizer gel (PS), the active substance of which is the trismeglumine salt of chlorin e6, are presented. The data of fluorescence spectroscopy for monitoring the level of PS fluorescence in order to determine the optimal time of its exposure are demonstrated. The study of the optimal exposure time involved 80 patients with different skin phototypes. The study of the effectiveness of PDT involved 42 patients aged 44–68 years with signs of chrono- and photoaging. The PDT procedure was performed by irradiating the entire surface treated with the PS with a power density of 100 mW/cm2, a light dose of 120–140 J/cm2, a laser radiation wavelength of 660 nm, and a light beam area of 400–800 cm2. It was found that exposure to PS for 10–20 min gives the highest fluorescence and does not depend on the skin phototype. The clinical effect of PDT was achieved in 85.7% of patients; there were no negative subjective sensations. Moisture metrics increased on the skin of the face by 53%, reaching the control values in young healthy volunteers, on the skin of the hands - by 64%. Elastometry indicators on the skin of the face and hands increased by 19% and 16%, respectively. Thus, the PDT procedure with PS based on chlorin e6 is an effective method for correcting involutional changes in the skin, leads to a pronounced clinical effect, improves the parameters of skin moisture measurement and elastometry, and passes without undesirable local reactions. Optical coherence tomography showed an increase in collagen ordering.

Intradermal tranexamic acid in the treatment of melasma: A prospective study of 20 Moroccan cases

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid mesotherapy in the treatment of melasma in the Moroccan population. Materials and Methods: All the patients received an intradermal injection of tranexamic acid (5 mg/mL). No other local or general treatment was administered. The patients were kept under external photoprotection only. Pre- and post-treatment photographs were taken and analyzed with the Visioface® RD hardware. The evaluation was employed the MASI score. Results: All patients had a dark skin phototype. The average duration of melasma evolution was 3.67 years. The pre-treatment average MASI was 7.6. The post-therapeutic average MASI was 6. The Visioface® RD hardware estimated a 25% reduction in the surface area attained at month five. No serious side effects were reported. Conclusion: Tranexamic acid was proven to be an essential tool in treating melasma.

Sunburns among beachgoers in the northern coast of Peru: frequency and factors associated

Background Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation has increased skin cancer incidence and the risk of sunburns, especially during the summer months. Objective Identify the frequency and factors associated with sunburns in a sample of beachgoers in the northern coast of Peru. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of a previous study that assessed the awareness, behavior and attitudes concerning sun exposure among beachgoers. We included adults between 18 and 59 years who went to a beach in northern Peru during summer (March 2018). Three generalized linear models of the Poisson family were constructed to evaluate the factors associated with having had at least one sunburn last summer. All regression models reported the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results Of a total of 402 participants, 225 (56.0%) had one to five sunburns and 25 (6.2%) had six or more. Beachgoers who were 1–15 days (aPR: 1.16, 95% CI [1.05–1.27]) or more than 15 days (aPR: 1.22, 95% CI [1.09–1.36]) exposed to the sun on the beach had a higher frequency of at least one sunburn. The non-regular wearing of a hat or cap also increased the frequency of sunburns (aPR: 1.06, 95% CI [1.01–1.12]). In contrast, those who had Skin Phototype III (aPR: 0.94, 95% CI [0.88–0.99]) or IV (aPR: 0.69, 95% CI [0.63–0.75]) had a lower frequency of sunburns. Conclusion Three out of five beachgoers had one or more sunburns in the last summer. The factors associated with a higher frequency were the time of sun exposure at the beach and the non-regular use of a hat or cap. Type III–IV skin phototypes were associated with a lower sunburn frequency.

Photoprotection and Vitamin D: A Concise Systematic Review

One of the main factors for the increase in the incidence of skin cancer in Brazil today is exposure to solar radiation. The main means of prevention is through photoprotection, together with factors such as solar incidence in the region, the habits of the population, and the skin phototype. The relationship between photoprotection and vitamin D is fundamental for patient orientation since photoprotection is a practice widely used today for all people, both those who have already suffered some type of skin cancer and others who are at greater risk or not. to develop it. On the other hand, some studies suggest that the photoprotection of the skin would jeopardize the development of Vitamin D, which may cause its deficiency, and may subject patients to future changes in bone mineralization, increasing the risk of bone deformities and fractures since the vitamin D is essential for bone tissue and its production is stimulated by skin exposure to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), with natural sources limited through the diet. The discussion about the relationship between photoprotection and vitamin D is essential to establish the right conditions for each patient.