• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2010

The primary function of the skin is to protect the body from the unwanted environmental influences. The outermost layer of the skin is stratum corneum which consists of corneocytes surrounded by lipid regions. Ceramides covalently bound to keratinocytes are essential for the barrier function of the skin, which can be disturbed in the disease, like xerosis. Xerosis is an abnormal dryness of the skin which reduced the thickness of stratum corneum and ceramide content decreasing with age. In this study, 36 seaweed extracts have been tested for screening of xerosis inhibitory agent by in vitro HaCaT keratinocyte assay. Ishige sinicola and Helminthocladia australis induced the significant amount of ceramide-like substance I in HaCaT keratinocyte among the tested seaweed extracts. Sargassum fulvellum, Chondrus ecellatus and Gigartina tenella also induced the ceramide-like substance I whereas Helminthocladia australis and Pachymeniopsis elliptica induced the ceramide-like II from HaCaT keratinocyte.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1284-1293
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effect of aromatherapy on skin xerosis and pruritus in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Twenty one subjects of this study were selected from St. Paul's Hosipital in Seoul. All the subjects were received the mineral oil massage at the arm without fistular three timesper week for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks period of wash-out, the subjects were received the aromatherapy of lavender and tea tree essence oil in the same way. This study was carried out from March 20 to June 13, 1998. Pruritus score, skin pH and stratum corneum hydration were measured before and after each treatment. But, biochemical parameters were measured before the treatment of the mineral oil massage, after the treatment of the mineral oil massage and the aromatherapy. Data of this study were analyzed by paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni multiple comparisons and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results were as follows ; 1. Pruritus score was significantly decreased after the aromatherapy, while no significant change after the treatment of the mineral oil massage. Therefore, there was a significant difference in the priritus score between the two treatments. 2. Stratum corneum hydration was significantly increased after the aromatherapy, while no significant change after the treatment of the mineral oil massage. Therefore, there was a significant difference in the stratum corneum hydration between the two treatments. 3. Skin pH was significantly increased after the treatment of the mineral oil massage, while no significant change after the aromatherapy. Therefore, there was no significant difference in the skin pH between the two treatments.4. After the aromatherapy, the serum calcium was significantly increased. Whereas the serum parathyroid hormone intact was significantly decreased compared with the treatment of the mineral oil massage. But the level of the serum Ca and PTH-intact were within the normal range. 5. Stratum corneum hydration was decreased corresponding to the duration of hemodialysis, while pruritus score and skin pH showed no change corresponding to the duration of hemodialysis and the age of the subjects. The correlation of pruritus score on skin pH, stratum corneum hydration and biochemical parameters was not significant. In conclusion, this findings indicate that aromatherapy may be effective in decreasing skin xerosis and pruritus score in uremic pruritus patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was designed to identify the possibility of aroma oils as the complementary medical goods specially for the effects of aromatheraphy on xerosis cutis. Materials and Methods : The participants were 23 adult patients and all participants of this study use aroma oils which is known to effect on xerosis cutis. The subjects consist of voluntary patients with xerosis cutis in Seong-So Hospital in Andong Kyoungbuk, Korea. From April 1st to April 30th, 2004 for 4 weeks, the subjects massaged aroma oils on itching parts or the whole body. Aroma oils were Lavender, Losemary, Jasmine and blended drop by drop per 10ml jojoba oil which used a carrier oil. Skin pH was measured with a skin pH meter(Model : HI98110, Se-Chang instruments, made in Portuga. After 4weeks using aroma oils, the participants answered questions about the feeling of satisfaction with aroma oils. Results : Changes in the physiological indices. The mean deviation of skin pH was $5.58{\pm}0.47$ points before using aroma oils and $5.53{\pm}0.45$ points after 2 weeks, no statistical significance was found(p=0.221). MD was $5.36{\pm}0.41$ points after 4 weeks using aroma oils, which was statistically significant decrease of 0.22 points(p=0.001) Changes on the Pruritus Score Scale. A modified scale of the Pruritus Score Scale(Duo, 1987) was used to measure the severity, location, frequency, and the inconveniences of daily life due to prurius. The maximum scale of severity was 4 points, the full marks of location was 2 points, the full marks of frequency was 3 points, the full marks of inconveniences of daily life due to pruritus was 3 points. The scores ranged from 0 to 12, with 12 indicating the most severe pruritus. There was no statistical difference in severity and frequency score at 4 weeks later(severity p=0.097, frequency p=0.633). A statistically significant difference was found in the score of location and the inconveniences of daily life due to pruritus(each p=0.003). Conclusion : Generally speaking, the patient suffering from renal itch is the higher than normal in skin pH levels. that means to show alkaline condition of skin surface. In some case in this study, skin pH levels was rather lower than normal levels when measured actually patients suffering from renal itch by skin pH meter. But in this study post-test skin pH levels decreased, showing the contribution of aromathrapy to acidic condition of skin surface in suffering from renal itch. It seems to be some help to cure a pruritus and also have no ill effects on aroma oils.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.104-117
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• 2013

Objective : The aim of this review is to development of clinical trial protocol for against cosmetics as a treatment of dry skin condition. Methods : We searched the literature from 2002 through April 2012 using 5 databases. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) in which human participants with dry skin condition as chief complaint were treated with cosmetics. The methodological quality of all RCTs was using the Jadad score. Results : Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Cosmetic types included cream (7 trials), lotion (1 trial), oil (1 trial) and body wash (1 trial). The methodological quality of the trials was generally low (Jadad score: mean 1.78; range, 1 to 3). Conclusions : The evidence for cosmetics as an effective treatment for dry skin condition(xerosis) is currently scarce and of poor quality, and is therefore inconclusive. More rigorous studies are warranted.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.98-141
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• 2003

Lip chapping is a serious cosmetics problem, though remedies other than moisturizing have not been proposed. We investigated changes in the surface configurations of lip corneocytes and increased CD activity and improved chapping severity. Our results suggest that lip chapping can be activities of desquamation-regulating proteinases associated with lip chapping. Using scanning electron microscopy, villus-like projections were observed on the inner surfaces of most corneocytes from normal lips, whereas those with flatter surface were predominant in chapped lips. Further, cell surface area increased with the severity of lip chapping. Cathepsin D (CD)-like and chymotrypsin-like proteinase, which are also present in skin as desquamation-regulating proteinases, were detected in lip corneocytes, though only CD activity was found to decrease in severely chapped lips. Hydration was also lower in areas of lip chapping. Sequential topical application of apricot extract essence characterized as similar to senile xerosis rather than dry skin such as winter xerosis, as it shows a delayed transition of corneocytes through the stratum corneum, and the reduced CD activity may be one of the mechanisms that is further decreased by low hydration. We propose that an enhancement of both CD activity and lip moisture may be effective to improve lip chapping.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2008

Some surfactants known as biosurfactants, are produced biologically by yeast and bacteria from various substances. They are more effective and environmentally friendly than many other synthetic surfactants. Antimicrobial activities of sophorolipids produced by Candida bombiocola were investigated against various microorganisms. Minimal Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of sophorolipid against S. mutans, C. xerosis, and P. acnes were 0.005, 0.05, and 0.005%, respectively. The antimicrobiological activities were more effective than those of SLS and APG. Skin exfoliating and moisturizing effects of vehicles with the sophorolipids were tested. The skin turnover time of aqueous solution with 0.25% sophorolipids was similar to that of aqueous solution with 5.0% lactic acid. Higher moisturizing effects on skin showed as the concentration of sophorolipids increased. We suggest that the sophorolipids can be used for cosmetics as an antimicrobiological agent and an active materials of skin moisturizing and exfoliating.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2015

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition including severe pruritus, xerosis, visible eczematous skin lesions that mainly begin early in life. Atopic dermatitis exerts a profound impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. The estimated lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased 2~3 fold during over the past 30 years, especially in urban areas in industrialized countries, emphasizing the importance of life-style and environment in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. While the interplay of individual genetic predisposition and environmental factors contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis, the recent increase in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis might be attributed to increased exposure to various environmental factors rather than alterations in human genome. In recent decades, there has been an increasing exposure to chemicals from a variety of sources. In this study, the effects of various environmental chemicals we face in everyday life - air pollutants, contact allergens and skin irritants, ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, and food additives - on the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis are reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of Cosmetic Acupuncture through reinterpretation of anatomy and physiology. Methods : The causes of wrinkle increases and rapid aging of facial skin were studied and the theoretical system of Cosmetic Acupuncture treatment was analyzed through anatomy and physiology reinterpretation. Results and Conclusions : An increase in wrinkles and rapid aging of facial skin is caused by xerosis. Skin condition represents the condition of subcutaneous muscle. The reason why skin becomes easily dry is the heat produced by craniofacial part. Craniofacial part always generates lot of physiological fever because of the muscles. This physiological fever is produced from the muscles that are responsible for maintaining skull suture, controlling the movement of temporomandibular joint, maintaining head and neck posture. Controlling this fever is the crux of Cosmetic Acupuncture mechanism. These muscles correspond to Foot Taeyang meridian-muscle, Foot Soyang meridian-muscle and Foot Yangmyung meridian-muscle. Cosmetic Acupuncture is effective for preventing facial skin from aging and wrinkle increase by mechanical stimulus on facial muscles, and for controlling craniofacial part meridian-muscle system producing the heat.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 2008

Dry skin, called xerosis as medical term, is one of the most common skin problems. Many epidemiological studies show that the consumption of foods containing lycopene plays an important role in protecting the epithelial tissue. In this study, water extracts of tomato (WET) containing lycopene were fed and applied to evaluate the effects on dry skin induced by kitchen detergent in rats. These effects were identified by protein analysis and histological changes such as inflammatory erythematic skin as well as acanthosis. The visual scoring for skin observation showed the value such as 4 indicating fiery red with edema after detergent application to skin for 3 wk. However, WET feeding and application to skin showed the decreased values, from 0.7 to 1.0. In addition, it was noteworthy that the epidermis of dry skin show apparent acanthosis with abnormally accentuated keratinization and parakeratosis. However, acanthosis was reversed by feeding and application of WET to dry skin. In order to analyze the effects of WET on dry skin induced by detergent, protein analysis was carried out. The increased amount of protein in dry skin after WET feeding and application would be suggested as one of biochemical mechanisms for recovering the damaged skin. Thus, it would be recommended that water-extracted tomato is a new ingredient in skin regeneration from dry skin induced by detergent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the effects herbal extracts on the skin inflammatory reactions. Among the herbal ingredients of herbal extracts, ethanol extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix showed potent radical scavenging activity, more than 86$\%$ at a concentration of 0.01$\%$, tested by DPPH(I,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hyrazyl) method. And ethanol extract of Aurantii Immaturus Fructus inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced release of nitric oxide(NO), 99$\%$ at 50㎍／㎖, by the macrophage RAW 246.7 cells. In addition, the ethanol extracts of Sophorae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix showed antibacterial activities on Propionibacterium acnes that causes acne, Sophorae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Aurantii Immaturus Fructus on Corynebacterium xerosis that cause osmidrosis axillae, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Aurantii Immaturus Fructus on Staphylococcus aureus that was reported to cause impetigo and atopic disease. Taken together, I expect that herbal extracts may be used as a drug for treatment on skin inflammation.