bromochloroacetic-acid and Eczema

Topics: Cholesterol; Eczema; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Essential; Humans; Ichthyosis; Keratins; Lipoproteins; Psoriasis; Refsum Disease; Skin; Sterols

Cutaneous xerosis is a common clinical condition associated with an altered barrier function of the stratum corneum. Xerotic skin appears dry, rough and slightly scaling. Patients complain of pruritus and stinging. Our aim was to investigate the clinical effects of a cosmetic ointment (Scherilan) in patients with circumscribed senile xerosis (also called asteatotic eczema). Moreover, variations in expression of epidermal proteins such as keratin (K)-5 and involucrin, detected by immunohistochemistry, were also evaluated before and after topical treatment. We enrolled 30 patients (11 males, 19 females) with asteatotic eczema. We examined dryness, roughness and desquamation and symptoms such as itching and dryness. A score of 0 to 3 was assigned to each of these parameters. A biopsy was performed in seven patients before and after a 21-day topical treatment. All skin specimens were then immunostained with antibodies to K5 and involucrin. At day 7 or 21 of treatment all signs of xerosis and pruritus were significantly reduced; furthermore, the reduction increased with the duration of therapy. Before treatment K5 was strongly expressed in stratum basale (SB) and stratum spinosum (SS), while involucrin was strongly expressed in stratum granulosum (SG) and the upper portion of SS. In contrast, after treatment immunostaining for K5 was restricted to SB and the lower part of SS, while involucrin showed intense staining in SG. We highlight the importance of treating cutaneous xerosis with an ointment such as this one, which probably induces an increase of lipid content of the SC intercellular matrix.

Topics: Aged; Biopsy; Cell Proliferation; Cosmetics; Eczema; Epidermis; Female; Glycolates; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratin-5; Keratins; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Ointments; Protein Precursors; Pruritus; Skin Diseases; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin E

It is now well established that epidermis, like many other tissues, contains a phospholipase A2 that is responsible for the initiation of the arachidonic acid cascade. Here we report that human epidermis also contains a second, quite distinct enzyme of the phospholipase A2 group, which is unique in its extreme activity against phospholipids in true solution. It also differs from the classic cutaneous enzyme in that (a) its activity is not reduced by pretreatment of the skin with corticosteroids in vivo nor by treatment of the epidermal homogenate with alkaline phosphatase in vitro, and (b) its activity is reduced, rather than increased, in the lesions of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. The enzyme seems to occur mainly in fully differentiated keratinocytes, its level being low in the basal cell layer of epidermis and in keratinocytes cultured in vitro. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that this new phospholipase A2 is responsible for the degradation of phospholipids that accompanies the terminal keratinization process.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Cells, Cultured; Clobetasol; Eczema; Epidermis; Humans; Keratins; Lichen Planus; Phospholipases; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A2; Psoriasis; Skin Diseases; Trypsin

Electronmicroscopical investigation on 12 cutaneous biopsies of different localisation showed that the seborrhoic dermatitis is not comparable to a psoriatic tissue-reaction. Both, the cyto-morphological feature and the demonstrated localisation of the acid phosphatase are distinctly different from that of the psoriatic epidermis. The described changes are clearly more similar to the well known ultrastructural pictures of eczemateous reactions. In spite of the "eczema-like" ultrastructural picture seborrhoic dermatitis apparently can be separated from the allergic and irritant contact-dermatitis. Nevertheless, the epidermal alterations are also similar to chronic nummular eczema. They therefore are unspecific and do not allow any conclusion regarding the etiopathogenesis or nosological classification of this skin disease.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Basement Membrane; Cell Nucleus; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Seborrheic; Desmosomes; Eczema; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Keratins; Organoids; Phagocytes; Psoriasis; Skin; Vacuoles

Fourteen cases are described in which the local application of corticosteroid preparations to ringworm infections of the skin have resulted in unusual clinical pictures. A kerion-like lesion due to Trichophyton rubrum, intertriginous infections simulating candidiasis and due to Epidermophyton floccosum, and pictures resembling poikiloderma, papular rosacea, and indeterminate leprosy are among the changes that were seen in these patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Betamethasone; Diagnosis, Differential; Eczema; Epidermophyton; Female; Fluocinolone Acetonide; Glucocorticoids; Griseofulvin; Humans; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Skin Diseases; Tinea; Triamcinolone Acetonide; Trichophyton; Valerates

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Eczema; Female; Humans; Infrared Rays; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Psoriasis; Skin; Spectrophotometry

Topics: Eczema; Esterases; Humans; Keratins; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Psoriasis; Skin; Staining and Labeling

Topics: Eczema; Electrophoresis; Esterases; Humans; Ichthyosis; Isoenzymes; Keratins; Psoriasis; Skin

Topics: Eczema; Electrons; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Infant; Keratins; Lipids; Microscopy; Microscopy, Electron; Pathology; Sebaceous Glands

Topics: Biochemical Phenomena; Biochemistry; Cholesterol; Eczema; Humans; Keratins; Lipid Metabolism; Palmitic Acid; Psoriasis; Radiometry