Antiirritant properties of polyols and amino acids

BACKGROUND

Antiirritants are used in cosmetic products to prevent or to treat skin irritations that arise during daily life. Data were published earlier on the efficacy of the best-known humectant, glycerol, in reducing irritation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different polyols (including glycerol, xylitol, and mannitol) and the amino acids taurine and glycine on sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced skin irritation.

METHODS

Healthy adult volunteers were patch-tested with 0.1% SLS in the presence or absence of one or another polyol or amino acid. Skin reactions were evaluated via measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

RESULTS

Glycerol and xylitol significantly suppressed the SLS-induced increase in TEWL, whereas mannitol had no effect on the SLS-induced skin irritation. Taurine also inhibited the SLS-induced increase in TEWL, but glycine was not effective in reducing the SLS-induced irritative response.

CONCLUSION

Similar to the action of the well-known antiirritant glycerol, SLS-induced skin irritation is suppressed by xylitol and taurine. These results suggest that these agents might also be effective in preventing irritative dermatitis.

Complex decongestive physiotherapy decreases capillary fragility in lipedema

Lipedema is a disproportional obesity featuring frequent hematoma formation due to even minor traumatic injuries. On the basis of clinical observations, complete decongestive physiotherapy diminishes the incidence of hematomas due to minor injuries beyond leg volume reduction. Hematoma development may be caused by altered capillary resistance (CR) or altered capillary fragility (CF). We measured capillary fragility (CF) before and after complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) to examine, whether CDP could reduce CF. 38 women with lipedema were included in the study. Twenty-one (21) patients were treated with CDP and 17 using exclusively moisturizers as the control group. CDP comprised once daily manual lymph drainage, intermittent pneumatic compression and multilayered short-stretch bandaging performed throughout a 5-day-course. CF was evaluated with the vacuum suction method (VSM) using Parrot's angiosterrometer in both groups. Decongestive therapy resulted in a significant reduction of the number of petechiae while no change was detected within the control group. Complete decongestive physiotherapy significantly reduced CF in patients with lipedema and this reduction may lead to reduced hematoma formation.

Necrolytic migratory erythema

BACKGROUND

Necrolytic migratory erythema is considered to be a paraneoplastic dermatosis. The classical symptoms are associated with alpha-cell pancreatic islet cell tumor or 'glucagonoma'. Generally, extracutaneous hallmarks of this disease include weight loss, diabetes, anaemia and diarrhoea.

OBSERVATION

We report a case of a 39-year-old woman with a 3-year history of recalcitrant psoriasiform eruption, who had no other associated symptoms on routine examination. Histologic examinations suggested necrolytic migratory erythema. Abdominal computer tomography was performed, which revealed a tumor in the tail of the pancreas. After distal resection of the pancreas her skin symptoms resolved in a few days time. Histology was consistent with glucagonoma. She is clinically well and symptomless and no signs of metastasis after 4 years.

CONCLUSIONS

It is infrequent to have only necrolytic migratory erythema, hyperglucagonaemia and islet-cell tumor but no other extracutaneous symptoms in glucagonoma syndrome. To our knowledge, ours is the second such case reported in the literature. Skin symptoms are important, often they are the clue to the diagnosis of glucagonoma syndrome.