Brenda L. Edison

An evaluation of a polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen in combination with azelaic acid 15% gel in rosacea patients

Rosacea is a common skin condition presenting with facial erythema, inflammatory papules and pustules, telangiectasia, and which is frequently associated with an increased facial sensitivity and irritability to a variety of topical products. 1 This is particularly problematic for women, who, on one hand, are socially embarrassed by the facial stigmata of rosacea, and on the other, are often unable to tolerate common skin care products for cleansing and moisturizing, or to improve the appearance of aged skin. A variety of topical prescription therapies are available for the treatment of rosacea, including azelaic acid (AzA), metronidazole, and sodium sulfacetamide. 2 However, because of the demographics of rosacea, i.e., typically after age 30, female rosacea patients desire not only to treat the clinical signs and symptoms of their rosacea, but also to improve the cosmetic condition of their skin. As a result, optimal cleansing and moisturizing products that are well tolerated on sensitive skin and provide cosmetic benefits such as antiaging effects are highly desirable. The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability and possible additional benefits of a skin care regimen containing the polyhydroxy acid (PHA), gluconolactone, compared to nonstandardized, individual skin care regimens during active treatment of rosacea with AzA 15% gel. The therapeutic efficacy of AzA 15% gel in papulopustular rosacea has been demonstrated in controlled studies. 3 Gluconolactone skin care was selected because it was previously demonstrated to provide cosmetic and adjunctive therapeutic effects. 4,5 It is a sixcarbon polyhydroxy acid (PHA) lactone that hydrolyzes to gluconic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), in the presence of water in a moisturizer formulation or in the skin. 6

A novel LCD (coal tar) solution for psoriasis does not discolor naturally light or color-processed hair in an exaggerated exposure test model

Background  Scalp psoriasis is reported to occur in 50–80% of psoriasis sufferers. Treatment of scalp psoriasis requires special consideration of product esthetics and staining potential due to the presence of hair.