Debbie Flynn and Sally Williams examine how moisture and pressure can cause skin to break down, how barrier creams can help the skin to heal and a new barrier system. Nurses have a major role to play in assessing and preventing skin breakdown. It is essential to risk assess all patients to identify those most likely to be vulnerable. Incontinence poses particular risk factors as both urine and ...

Mercury is considered one of the most toxic elements for plants and animals. Nevertheless, in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, whitening creams containing mercury are being manufactured and purchased, despite their obvious health risks. Due to the mass distribution of these products, this can be considered a global public health issue. In Mexico, these products are widely available in p...

The adult nephrotic syndrome as met with in Nairobi is predominantly encountered in young sophisticated African women, most of whom began to use skin-lightening creams containing mercury before the symptomatic onset of their illness. The particular form of mercury involved is well known to cause the nephrotic syndrome in other circumstances-for example, when applied to the skin in the treatment...

Objectives: Acne is a common skin disease especially in adolescents and young adults. Several pathogenetic factors are implicated in causing the disease. Typically acne flares and remits in its course. Several factors can cause flares. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived factors of acne flares and the idea of sun creams causing skin darkening. Methods: A questionnaire study of the...

Moisturizers are used as cosmetics and as adjuvant therapy in dermatology. The strength or relative efficacy of moisturizers is poorly described and thus advising patients is difficult. It has been suggested that lipidization of the skin by moisturizers and the changes in skin mechanics following the application of a moisturizer may be useful measures of outcome. The aim of this study is to des...

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 wrink...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of newly formulated topical cream of Calendula officinalis extract on the mechanical parameters of the skin by using the cutometer. The Cutometer 580 MPA is a device that is designed to measure the mechanical properties of the skin in response to the application of negative pressure. This non-invasive method can be useful for objective and quant...

Background: Atopic eczema (AE) is a very common chronic skin inflammatory disease of pediatric age. Skin xerosis and itch are the hallmark of the disease pointing out that skin barrier alteration is the background condition of AE. Skin barrier alteration could favour S. aureus colonization which in turn could be a process involved in AE flares. Due to their positive effects on skin barrier func...