Observer-blind randomized controlled study of a cosmetic blend of safflower, olive and other plant oils in the improvement of scar and striae appearance

Distinct Effects of Seed Coat and Flower Colors on Metabolite Contents and Antioxidant Activities in Safflower Seeds

Safflower is an important oilseed crop cultivated primarily for its seeds, which have pharmaceutical properties. Color is an important agronomical trait that appears to be a prior parameter for evaluating the internal quality of plant seeds. This study employs 197 safflower accessions seeds to analyze how their seed coat and flower colors affect their total oil content, fatty acid composition, total phenolic content (TPC), N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (CS) and N-feruloylserotonin (FS) contents, and [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)] radical scavenging activities. Significant variations were observed in the targeted metabolite contents and antioxidant properties among genotypes. Notably, the linoleic acid content, total unsaturated fatty acid content, the ratio of total unsaturated fatty acid to total saturated fatty acid, CS, FS, ABTS, and DPPH scavenging capacities varied significantly based on seed coat color, with white-seeded genotypes having the highest average values of these parameters. Moreover, the linoleic acid content differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the genotypes with varying flower colors, with white-flowered accessions having the highest average content. Furthermore, genotypes K185105 (No. 75) and K175278 (No. 146) were identified as promising genetic resources with health benefits. Overall, these findings reveal that seed coat and flower colors distinctly affect metabolite contents and antioxidant properties in safflower seeds.

In Vitro and In Vivo Characteristics of Olive Oil as Excipient for Topical Administration

Oily excipients are vital components of dermatological products. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of Wild Olive Oil (WOO) were compared with two other types of olive oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and Virgin Olive Oil (VOO). This work has also included Liquid Paraffin (LP) and Rosehip Oil (RO) as reference oils. Melatonin was used in the study as a model drug to demonstrate the antioxidant capacity of the oils. The melatonin carrier capacity and antioxidant performance was related to the degree of unsaturation of the oils and was highest for RO and WOO and lowest for LP. However, the most stable oil to oxidation was LP. The in vivo performance of the oils in the skin of eight healthy volunteers was investigated with a dermoanalyser. The highest increment of oil and hydration in the skin was obtained with RO. The lowest perception of oiliness was described for WOO, which produced the highest increase in elasticity of the skin area where it was applied. An in vitro-in vivo correlation was therefore performed through multivariable analysis (MVA).

Vegetable Butters and Oils as Therapeutically and Cosmetically Active Ingredients for Dermal Use: A Review of Clinical Studies

While the chemical composition of vegetable butters and oils has been studied in detail, there is limited knowledge about their mechanisms of action after application on the skin. To understand their dermal effects better, 27 clinical studies evaluating 17 vegetable oils (almond, argan, avocado, borage, coconut, evening primrose, kukui, marula, mustard, neem, olive, rapeseed, sacha inchi, safflower, shea butter, soybean and sunflower oils) were reviewed in this research. The reviewed studies focused on non-affected skin, infant skin, psoriasis, xerosis, UVB-induced erythema, atopic dermatitis, molluscum contagiosum, tungiasis, scars, striae and striae gravidarum. We conclude that in inflammation-affected skin, vegetable oils with a high content of oleic acid, together with the lack of or a low linoleic acid content, may cause additional structural damage of the stratum corneum, while oils high in linoleic acid and saturated fatty acids may express positive effects. Non-affected skin, in contrast, may not react negatively to oils high in oleic acid. However, the frequency and duration of an oil's use must be considered an important factor that may accelerate or enhance the negative effects on the skin's structural integrity.

Systematic review of single and combined treatments for different types of striae: a comparison of striae treatments

Striae distensae (SD) or stretch marks are among the most common forms of atrophic scarring and cosmetic problems, especially in women, that negatively affect quality of life. The main causes of SD vary widely, but the most significant ones include obesity, pregnancy, high corticosteroid levels, weight changes, endocrine disorders and genetic predispositions. Various modalities are available for the treatment of SD; however, there is still no gold standard therapy for this condition. Given the many questions concerning the preferred therapeutic modalities for SD or their overall cost-effectiveness, this comprehensive systematic review discusses the most prevalent, recent and promising therapies for SD in three main categories, including single therapy, therapeutic comparisons and combination therapy. A systematic search was carried out in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar for original articles published on the treatment of SD by 20 May 2019. One hundred articles were reviewed and divided into three categories. In the single therapy category, we found that laser and other light-based devices and topical treatments are the most commonly applied interventions. In the therapeutic comparison category, we found that most of the common therapeutic modalities are equally effective and there is no significant difference between them in side-effects and treatment duration. In the combination therapy category, we found that the combination of two or more modalities is usually better than using each one alone.

Conservative Management of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome-Related Skin Necrosis: A Case Report

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome is an extremely rare autoimmune disease with complex and diverse clinical manifestations. Cutaneous necrosis is one of its rare clinical features. However, interventions for this manifestation are not standardized and lack evidence, which increases treatment difficulty. Here, study authors report the successful care and follow-up of a 46-year-old female patient with nephrotic syndrome and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome complicated by full-thickness cutaneous necrosis of the dorsum of the right hand that lasted more than 4 months and 1 month prior to wound treatment, respectively. Study authors set up an interprofessional team, including a nephrologist, a vascular surgeon, and two specialist wound care nurses to provide holistic wound care and treat her complex systemic conditions. After 84 days of treatment, which involved removing necrotic tissue with autolytic wound debridement, reducing inflammation with hydrofiber dressings containing silver, and promoting re-epithelialization with hydrocolloid paste and systemic medications, the wound healed successfully. Authors followed up with the patient at 1, 4, 6, 11, and 19 months after healing. The quality of scar was monitored, and the function of her right hand recovered normally.

Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract alleviates stretch mark appearance in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in women and stimulates extracellular matrix synthesis in ex vivo human skin explants

BACKGROUND

The leaves of Tasmannia lanceolata mainly contain polygodial that is known to exhibit a range of biological functions including anti-inflammatory effects.

AIMS

These studies aimed to assess the effects of Tasmannia lanceolata extract (TLE) on skin and more particularly on stretch marks in women.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study was carried out on 29 women, aged from 25 to 60 years, to investigate the effects of TLE on stabilized stretch marks. TLE and placebo products were topically applied daily for 8 weeks. Skin roughness and firmness of stretch marks were assessed by 2D and 3D photograph processing and analyses. Dermal density and thickness were evaluated using ultrasound, while stretch mark conditions (length, color, and depth) were determined by clinical scoring. Matricial proteins (pro-collagen I and elastin) and pro-matricial factors, like TGF-β concentrations, were quantified from cultures of human skin explants presenting stretch marks, treated with TLE or vehicle control.

RESULTS

Skin roughness of stretch marks was significantly reduced in the TLE group after 8 weeks of treatment. Skin firmness of stretch marks was significantly increased in the TLE group after 4 weeks of treatment, and this improved effect was maintained until the end of the study. Dermal density and thickness were significantly increased in the TLE group compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, TLE restored the dermal condition of the stretch mark skin, up to normal skin levels. In addition, pro-collagen I and elastin concentrations were found to be higher in the TLE-treated stretch mark skin explants compared to the untreated ones, associated with higher quantities of TGF-β production.

CONCLUSION

These results revealed that TLE could help improve the aspect of stabilized stretch marks in women by restoring the matricial environment.

Survey of use of herbal and home remedies for hair and scalp among women in North West Saudi Arabia

Herbal products and home remedies, especially those used as cosmetics, are widely used worldwide. Therefore, we conducted this study to discover the pattern of use of remedies in treating hair and scalp disorders in Tabuk, North West area of Saudi Arabia. A survey about use of herbal products and home remedies was prepared to evaluate their in hair and scalp. The questionnaire was distributed to 149 female hairdressers, hair products sellers and traditional healers as well as female customers in these places. We found about forty-one plants and eleven home remedies used for hair and scalp in Tabuk area. The most widely used plants were Henna (15.01%), coconut (10.22%) and olive (8.14%). They were widely used in hair damage (32.01%), hair endings (21.95%) and hair loss (21.94%). In parallel, the most widely used home remedies were yogurt (32.42%), eggs (26.91%) and honey (23.85%). They were widely used in hair damage (45.57%), hair endings (26.91%) and hair loss (19.88%). There were no differences between participants in the pattern of use of remedies regarding their education level of age group. In conclusion, many natural herbal medicine and home remedies are still in use in North West region of Saudi Arabia for hair and scalp. There is a great shortage in medical sources of information. Finally, many of used remedies lacks important scientific information about their usage and safety.

Consumer Preference of Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Stretch Marks: Systematic Product Search

Background

Striae distensae, or stretch marks, are a common and distressing condition affecting females two-and-a-half times more frequently than males. Despite the numerous products available for stretch mark prevention and treatment, there have been few studies that consider consumer product preference.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine which products were preferred by consumers for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks based on product vehicle and product ingredients.

Methods

In January 2020, a search was conducted on internet retailer Amazon for products related to stretch marks. The top products were identified as those with 100 reviews or greater and a rating of 4 or higher. The products were classified as either stretch mark–specific or non stretch mark–specific. Price, rating, type of vehicle, and specific ingredients of both product groups were compared. Vehicle-type and ingredients in both product groups were compared with two-tailed two-sample proportion tests to determine if certain vehicles or ingredients were more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products. P<.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results

Out of over 10,000 products, 184 were selected as the top products according to the review and rating criteria of which 117 (63.6%) were stretch mark–specific and 67 (36.4%) were non stretch mark–specific. Oil was the most common vehicle (131/184, 71.2%) while vitamin E was the most common ingredient (58/184, 31.5%). Oil, as a vehicle, was more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products than in non stretch mark–specific products (P=.001). Olive oil (P=.02) and cocoa butter (P=.08), Centella asiatica (P=.01), and shea butter (P=.003) were the ingredients more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products than in non stretch mark–specific products.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that there are many products available for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks and identified specific ingredients in the products preferred by customers. There are few studies investigating the effectiveness of the major ingredients in the stretch mark products that are preferred by consumers. Future studies can focus on the effectiveness of the ingredients found in the products that are preferred by consumers.

Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injuries and Associated Risk Factors in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSIs) and associated risk factors in a pediatric ICU (PICU).

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was adopted in the PICU of a university-based children's hospital in eastern China. A total of 232 patients were enrolled, and 611 person-days were analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Researchers assessed all patients daily for 2 weeks. The use of adhesives and prevalence of MARSIs were recorded. The patients' clinical data were also collected. The prevalence of MARSIs was calculated daily, and the risk factors were examined statistically.

MAIN RESULTS

The MARSI prevalence ranged from 23.53% to 54.17% (mean, 37.15%). Multivariate analysis identified being female, age 2 years or younger, hospital stays longer than 5 days, infection, edema, and surgery as independent risk factors. Prevalence by product ranged from 19 to 53 per 1,000 product-days with a mean of 34 MARSIs per 1,000 product-days. The major MARSI types were epidermal stripping and skin tear. The face was the most common MARSI site, and tracheal intubation was the most common inciting condition. Implicated products were acrylate tapes with elastic cloth backings.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers concluded that MARSI is common in the PICU. Skin stripping and skin tear were the most common types, and the face was the most vulnerable site for MARSI, typically attributable to the cloth tape used to affix tracheal intubation. Careful attention should be paid to children with identified risk factors (females, age 2 years or younger, longer hospital stays, edema, infection, or surgery).