• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-133
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• 2008

Objectives : Since ancient times, Koreans have applied medicinal spabaths for treatment of various diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of strontium, one of the common ingredients of such baths, experimentally on acute skin barrier damage. Materials and Methods : Male hairless mice, average weight 20g, were divided into six groups. Each group consisted of five mice. The first was the normal, non-treated group. The second was the control group with acute skin barrier damage intentionally induced by TS. The third was the Ba-Sr1 group bathed in 1mg/L strontium chloride before and after inducing acute skin barrier damage by TS. The fourth was the Ba-Sr7 group bathed in 7mg/L strontium chloride before and after inducing acute skin barrier damage by TS. The fifth was the Sr1 group bathed in 1mg/L of strontium chloride only after intentionally inducing acute skin barrier damage by TS. The sixth was the Sr7 group bathed in 7mg/L of strontium chloride only after intentionally inducing acute skin barrier damage by TS. External changes of skin, skin erythema level, transepidermal water loss level, and GOT and GPT level of each group were checked immediately before and after TS, 3 hrs, 5 hrs and 24 hrs after inducing acute skin barrier damage. Then, tissue samples were made and examined for damage to epithelial cells, stratum corneum, change of mucous polysaccharide in dermis and amount of mast cells. Statistical analysis was performed by one way-ANOVA, Scheffe and Duncan for a post hoc test and pairwise comparison for comparing for difference between each time. Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5% (p<0.05) Results : 1. From skin erythema and TEWL level indicating the function of the skin barrier, we can know that it is helpful to the skin barrier to bathe in a water solution including a low concentration of strontium. 2. In the control group with acute skin barrier damage induced by TS, skin barrier damage persisted until 3-5 hrs and recovered after 5-24 hrs. Differently from the control group, in the case of taking a bath in a water solution including strontium, skin barrier damage recovered after only 3-5 hrs. Therefore, the bath with a water solution including strontium can promote recovery of the skin barrier. 3. Bathing in water solution including a higher concentration of strontium was more beneficial to recovery of skin barrier damage. 4. There was no influence on serum GOT and GPT from bathing in a water solution including strontium. Conclusions : The strontium was effective for recovery and mitigation of acute skin barrier damage induced by tape stripping. I suggest that strontium (Sr) can be used as an external treatment medicine, addedinto bath water to treat acute skin barrier damage.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2012

Multiple treatment modalities, including topical and systemic corticosteroid and phototherapy, have been used in treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. However, long-term corticosteroid therapy may have various adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of bath therapy using green tea extracts for treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. A total of four patients with atopic dermatitis were enrolled in this study. A Malassezia multiplex detection kit was used in performance of multiplex PCR on clinical isolates, which confirmed Malassezia sympodialis. Subjects underwent treatment with bath therapy using green tea extracts three times per wk for a period of 4 wk. Assessment using the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index, the visual analogue scale for pruritus, and transepidermal water loss was performed weekly. Laboratory tests were performed before and after treatment. All patients showed marked improvement on the mean SCORAD and visual analogue scale, and a significant decrease in the mean values of serum eosinophil counts was observed after treatment. Bath therapy with green tea extract is an effective, safe, and nonsteroidal therapy for treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis associated with Malassezia sympodialis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Objectives: In order to accurately measure skin moisture and accumulate normal skin moisture data, analyzing the uncertainty of the skin moisture measurement and establishing standard reference data is essential. It helps to evaluate the skin's condition and has great significance in diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the traceability of the equipment and the uncertainty of the results were analyzed for their potential use in the field of Korean medicine. The data was collected measuring skin moisture on the sole of the foot. Methods: One professional measured the moisture of the adult male's foot 10 times following a determined protocol. The standard uncertainty of repeated measurements was calculated from the mean value of 10 repeated measurements. Ten trainee participants also measured the adult male's foot following a determined protocol. The standard uncertainty by tester was calculated from the value of repeated measurements. Results: As a result of analyzing the difference between the mean and standard uncertainties in both the expert and trainees, it was confirmed that the variance in this study did not satisfy the normal distribution. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U-test was carried out, and it was found that there was no significant difference in the measured values of the two groups. The authorized uncertainty of measurements and traceability of all the equipment was not confirmed. Conclusions: This paper establishes the basis for later measurement-equipment research to provide the objective indicators to approach the dryness of plantar skin from dehydration, the Korean medicine perspective.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2007

To develop cleansing tissue composed of silicone multiple emulsions which could easily remove make-up residues and confer skin protecting effect without damaging skin, we formulated various silicone multiple emulsions and evaluated the physicochemical properties including viscosity, cleansing effect, and safety effect. Also, cleansing tissue incorporated with silicone multiple (W/Si/W) emulsion was stored for 6 months, and judged its stability through microscopes under accelerated and long-term condition. Cleansing effect was evaluated by chromameter. Skin hydration effect was determined by corneometer and incorporation effect into non-woven fabric cotton was evaluated by volunteer survey. Low viscosity ranged from 400 centipoise (cP) to 1,000 cP was obtained from a stabilized W/Si/W emulsion containing more than 10% volatile silicone. Mean diameter of fresh W/Si/W emulsion was $20{\mu}m$, but after storage for 3 months at $45^{\circ}C$, the particle size of the W/Si/W emulsion increased up to $50{\mu}m$. Both W/Si/W emulsion-incorporated cleansing tissue and commercial product showed equally good cleansing effect. In addition, skin allergies such as erythema, edema, scaling itching, stinging, burning, tightness and prickling were not observed through macroscopic examination. From the transepidermal water loss results, the cleansing tissue consisting of W/Si/W emulsion showed superior hydration effect to commercial product. In conclusion, this study suggests cleansing tissue using W/Si/W emulsion could be used for an excellent efficacy compared with commercialized cleansing tissue.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1736-1743
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 on skin hydration in human dermal fibroblasts and in hairless mice. In Hs68 cells, L. plantarum HY7714 not only increased the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) mRNA level, but also decreased the ceramidase mRNA level. In order to confirm the hydrating effects of L. plantarum HY7714 in vivo, we orally administered vehicle or L. plantarum HY7714 at a dose of $1{\times}10^9CFU/day$ to hairless mice for 8 weeks. In hairless mice, L. plantarum HY7714 decreased UVB-induced epidermal thickness. In addition, we found that L. plantarum HY7714 administration suppressed the increase in transepidermal water loss and decrease in skin hydration, which reflects barrier function fluctuations following UV irradiation. In particular, L. plantarum HY7714 administration increased the ceramide level compared with that in the UVB group. In the experiment on SPT and ceramidase mRNA expressions, L. plantarum HY7714 administration improved the reduction in SPT mRNA levels and suppressed the increase in ceramidase mRNA levels caused by UVB in the hairless mice skins. Collectively, these results suggest that L. plantarum HY7714 can be a potential candidate for preserving skin hydration levels against UV irradiation.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2020

Objectives This study is conducted to evaluate Th2 skewed condition control through skin fat barrier formation from the treatment using Coptidis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract. Methods The 6-week-old NC/Nga mice were divided into 4 groups: Control group (Ctrl), lipid barrier eliminate treatment group (LBET), Coptidis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza uralensis feeding treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (CGFT), dexamethasone feeding treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DxFT). After 3 days, differences in skin condition, improvement of skin fat barrier, and control of Th2 skewed condition of each group were observed. Results Pathologic skin damage and tissue changes were less in the CGFT group than in the LBET and DxFT groups, and Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and pH were also significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The filaggrin intensity and positive response also increased significantly in the CGFT group (p < 0.05). Kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) 7, Protease activated receptor (PAR)-2, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), Interleukin (IL)-4, and the products of the Th2 differentiation process also showed a significant decrease compared to the LBET and DxFT groups (all p < 0.05). Conclusions The Coptidis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract causes skin barrier recovery and function recovery through the formation of skin fat barrier. This leads to the conclusion that Coptidis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract can control Th2 differentiation through the formation of skin fat barrier.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2010

Tropical inhabitants are able to tolerate heat through permanent residence in hot and often humid tropical climates. The goal of this study was to clarify the peripheral mechanisms involved in thermal sweating pre and post exposure (heat-acclimatization over 10 days) by studying the sweating responses to acetylcholine (ACh), a primary neurotransmitter of sudomotor activity, in healthy subjects (n=12). Ten percent ACh was administered on the inner forearm skin for iontophoresis. Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing, after iontophoresis (2 mA for 5 min) with ACH, was performed to determine directly activated (DIR) and axon reflex-mediated (AXR) sweating during ACh iontophoresis. The sweat rate, activated sweat gland density, sweat gland output per single gland activated, as well as oral and skin temperature changes were measured. The post exposure activity had a short onset time (p<0.01), higher active sweat rate [(AXR (p<0.001) and DIR (p<0.001)], higher sweat output per gland (p<0.001) and higher transepidermal water loss (p<0.001) compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The activated sweat rate in the sudomotor activity increased the output for post-exposure compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The results suggested that post-exposure activity showed a higher active sweat gland output due to the combination of a higher AXR (DIR) sweat rate and a shorter onset time. Therefore, higher sudomotor responses to ACh receptors indicate accelerated sympathetic nerve responsiveness to ACh sensitivity by exposure to environmental conditions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

Objectives : To investigate aggravating and mitigating factors of atopic dermatitis and to utilize the outcome in treatment planning. Methods : The research has a cross-sectional study design. Patients' SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) Index, demographic, physical characteristics, social history, serologic index and skin related instrumental measurements were analyzed with correlation and regression analysis method. Results : 48 patients in total were enrolled in the study. Skin Surface Hydration (SSH) and sex were found to be statistically significant aggravating and mitigating factors. As SSH increased, Total SCORAD (tSCORAD) and Objective SCORAD (oSCORAD) increased as well. As SSH decreased, tSCORAD and oSCORAD decreased as well. Female patient had a higher probability of suffering from severer subjective symptoms than that of male. Age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption and smoking, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-γ were found not to be statistically significant. There was no correlation between Subjective SCORAD (sSCORAD) and oSCORAD neither with Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI). Conclusions : Increasing cutaneous moisture should be included in the treatment plan of atopic dermatitis. More emphasis should be put on alleviating subjective discomforts of female patients than that of male. Establishing separate strategies of managing objective eczema status and subjective discomforts respectively should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.120-132
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• 2009

Objective : Yukmijihwang-tang is one of the important medicines for blood- deficiency and yin-deficiency. Atopic dermatitis usually shows dampness-heat pattern in its acute stage and blood-deficiency or yin-deficiency pattern in its chronic stage. Therefore, I hypothesized that Yukmijihwang-tang is effective on atopic dermatitis and investigated the effects of Yukmijihwang-tang on NC/Nga mice's atopic dermatitis induced by DNCB. Methods : The NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis were divided into four groups: three experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups were respectively put on 2.5g(YM-2.5), 5g(YM-5) and 10g(YM-10) of Yukmijihwang-tang extract per their weight once a day for 10 days while the control group was fed normal saline. After 10 days, I measured TEWL(transepidermal water loss), observed scratching behaviors, conducted a skin biopsy and checked levels of Total IgE, IL-4 and $IFN-\gamma$ on NC/Nga mice. Results : 1. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly suppressed skin dryness. In particular, YM-5 and YM-10 had better skin hydration than YM-2.5. 2. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly suppressed pruritus while there was no significant difference among the experimental groups. 3. Yukmijihwang-tang retained skin structure(epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat). 4. Yukmijihwang-tang reduced Total IgE level while there was no significant difference between the control group and the experimental groups. 5. Yukmijihwang-tang did not reduce IL-4(Th2 cytokine) level. 6. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly reduced $IFN-\gamma$(Th1 cytokine) level. In particular, YM-2.5 and YM-5 had lower $IFN-\gamma$ level than YM-10. Conclusion : The results suggest that Yukmijihwang-tang suppresses skin dryness and pruritus, retains skin structure and is effective on chronic atopic dermatitis which is associated with Th1 cytokines in the immune response.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2020

This study assessed the effects of probiotics in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). We enrolled 11 client-owned dogs with AD and randomly allocated them to two groups. The probiotics group (n = 7) was prescribed with Bifidobacterium longum while the control group (n = 4) received a placebo powder once a day for 12 weeks. In both groups, the degree of skin lesions was evaluated based on the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-4. We also measured the transepidermal water loss (TEWL). We assessed pruritus severity using the pruritus visual analog scale (PVAS). Alteration of consumed drug doses was converted into medication scores. All the evaluation indices were surveyed every 4 weeks. In the probiotics group, there was a significant decrease in the CADESI-4 score at 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to that of the baseline score (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in TEWL, PVAS, and medication score at each time point and between groups. Although these results showed that Bifidobacterium longum did not reduce pruritus, TEWL, and the dosage of drugs for canine AD, it was effective in improving skin lesions, therefore, probiotics could be considered in canine AD with severe skin symptoms.