Module 6 - FINAL Flashcards
What are the features of an ideal cosmoceutical?
- Have an immediate effect
- Have a long-lasting effect
- Have a low/no-side effect profile
- Be inexpensive
- Treat a variety of skin conditions
What are common myths promoted by common skincare companies?
- Drinking 2L water a day is necessary to have good skin - no evidence about specific amount of water, hydration is good for health, skin hydration is related to a healthy skin barrier preventing excessive water loss
- More expensive creams are better - no evidence for this, most important considerations is suitability, blinded studies showed preference for cheaper
- Moisturisers remove wrinkles - they increase hydration so minimise appearance of wrinkles
- Skincare products should be perfume-free, hypoallergenic and natural - perfume-free only if has perfume allergy, all products should be hypoallergenic for approval anyway, natural does not necessarily mean safe or effective, pharmaceutical grade ingredients most effective
- Topical = oral application - depends on cosmeceutical agent
- Must penetrate skin barrier to work - not necessarily
- Self-tanning agents provide sun protection - no at most equivalent. SPF 3-4
Define acne.
Acne is a common skin condition characterised by open and closed skin comedones results in spots and pustules often on face, chest and back. Commonly affects teenagers.
Define Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA).
A group of carboxylic acids that can be found naturally in the skin and can be synthetically made to add to cosmeceuticals.
AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid and manic acid.
Primarily used as exfoliating agents but at higher concentrations can peel the skin.
Define antioxidants.
Products which prevent or inhibit the oxidation of other molecules (by free radicals) and can protect cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.
Define botanicals.
Plant extracts found in skincare products. They do not require extensive testing so are cheaper for manufacturers to put into products compared to pharmacological agents.
Define cosmeceuticals.
Products that are neither pure cosmetics or drugs but have elements of both.
Define emollients.
Products with a lipid content that produce a layer on the skin reducing trans-epidermal water loss and thereby soothing and hydrating skin.
- Ointments - contain lipid with no water e.g. vaseline
- Water in oil emulsions - high lipid content e.g. hydrous ointment (Nivea)
- Oil in water emulsion - high water content e.g. aqueous cream
- Lotions - high water content e.g. vaseline intensive care lotion
Define hydroquinone.
An inhibitor of melanin production often used in depigmentation creams to lighten skin
Define melasma.
A condition causing hyperpigmentation on the face of women. It is affected by sunlight and the presence of oestrogen (endogenous and exogenous).
Occurs in pregnancy called chloasma.
Define peptides.
Short chains of amino acid sequences that make up larger proteins. Three types used in cosmeceuticals: 1. Signal peptides 2. Carrier peptides 3. Neurotransmitter blocking peptides
Define retinoids.
Analogues of Vitamin A (retinol), which is derived from beta-carotene. They activate the nuclear retinoid receptors to produce a variety of effects.
Define rosacea.
A condition in which there is telangiectasia of blood and lymph vessels which leads to facial redness and eventually to papules, pustule and (in men) hypertrophy of sebaceous glands on the nose causing rhinophyma.
Define sunscreens.
Physical or chemical means to prevent the effects of UV radiation on the skin.
Physical sunscreens such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide reflect light and have a broad spectrum of action.
Chemical sunscreens such as para-aminobenzoic acid, benzophenones and cinnamates absorb UV light and re-emit it as heat.
Define trans-epidermal water loss.
A technique to measure the barrier function of the stratum corneum and is used to assess the effects of ideas and of treatment of skin.
How to treat photo-damage?
A cluster of different changes in the skin including atrophy, telangiectasia, fine and deep wrinkles, yellow and dyspigmentation.
Prevention is important in untreated patients and particularly in those who have had rejuvenation treatments (e.g. skin peels).
Sunblock should be used daily with UVA and UVB.
At least 25 in summer and 15 rest of time to prevent photo-damage.
Topical retinoids have small effect of signs of photo-damage (need to continue Tx for a year)
How to treat hyperpigmentation?
Superficial:
- caused by photo-damage or melasma
- excess melanin is contained in epidermal melanocytes so can be easily accessed by topical agents.
Deep:
- post-inflammatory changes
- excess melanin contained in macrophages deep in dermis
Most effective treatment is hydroquinone:
- works by inhibiting the conversion of tyrosine to melanin
- In UK it is prescription only and limited to 4% concentration
- May be formulated with steroid/retinoid/sun screen to enhance effectiveness
- Botanical agents such as kojic acid not as effective
How to treat facial redness?
May be a sign of photo-damage or rosacea
Typical notice facial flushing with heat, exercise, spicy foods and stress
Sensitive skin and intolerant of many products
Advised to use cheaper products with less ingredients as likely to have less irritant effects
Soothing botanicals - aloe vera, allantoin, bisabolol
Botanicals for facial redness - green tea, gingko
Most effective topical agent is metronidazole (Rozex cream) or topical azelaic acid (Finacea cream)
Avoid potent steroid creams
How to treat wrinkles?
Mostly due to sun damage (only 10% due to intrinsic ageing)
Deep wrinkles not amenable to topical therapy
Most important product is retinol - tretinoin has greater efficacy
Effectiveness needs to be balanced with irritant potential
What are simple rules to giving good skincare advice?
- Keep up to date with adverse reactions - Cosmetic ingredient Review has list of unsafe ingredients and can be accessed on www.cir-safety.org
- Manage expectation
- Evaluate critically product claims
- Tailor the treatment to the patient - knowledge of skin type and any sensitivities
- Always stay objective - don’t be influenced by marketing or cheap deals, offer advise on best evidence available
What are retinoids?
- Class of compounds with basic core of Vitamin A and its oxidised metabolites
- Naturally occurring but can be made synthetically (retinoids)
- Retinoids can be delivered both enterally or topically
- Retinoids are lipophilic, easily penetrate epidermis
- OTT as cosmeceuticals and via prescription
What are the benefits of retinoids?
- Renewing epidermal cells
- Acting as UV filters
- Preventing oxidative stress
- Controlling cutaneous bacterial flora
- Improving skin ageing and photo-ageing
What skin conditions can be treated with retinoids?
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Photo-damaged skin (fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation)
- Rosacea
What are the side effects of retinoids?
- Local irritation (topical) - dryness, scaling, flaking, dermatitis
- Teratogenic (oral) - must NOT be prescribed to pregnant women or women who are thinking of getting pregnant
What is the molecular biology of retinoids?
- Derivative of beta-carotene and its metabolites
- Retinaldehyde, retinol, retinyl esters, retinoid acid
- Important role in: angiogenesis, dermatological haemostats, development (ocular development)
- Retinoic acid oxidised version of Retinol
- Retinoic acid binds to and antagonise RAR/RXR, which in turn influences RARE location and gene expression.
- Retinols are located in both the digestive system and skin
- Free retinol is esterifed via LRAT or ARAT to retinyl palmitate which is then stored
- Retinyl palmitate further oxidised to active form
- Free retinol oxidised to retinoic acid (in cytoplasm) is rate limiting step in generation of active retinoid metabolites
- Then activates gene expression by RAR/RXR mechanism
How is retinol derived?
Hydrolysis of beta-carotene into 2 molecules
What are the indications for retinol Tx?
- Acne
- Photo-damaged skin
What is the concentration of retinol Tx?
<0.08%
What is the mechanism of action of retinol?
Conversion to retinoic acid
What is retinaldehyde?
Oxidised form of retinol and is intermediary step between retinol to retinoic acid conversion
What are the indications for retinaldehyde Tx?
- Acne
- Photo-damaged skin
- Rosacea
(Rarely used in OTC products)
What is the mechanism of action of retinaldehyde?
Conversion to retinoic acid
much better side effect profile to retinol in terms of less skin irritation
What are retinyl esters?
- These are the primary form of retinol
- Stored in cell lipids
- Acyl chains in retinyl esters plays a key role in activity and irritation profiles
Give examples of retinyl ester.
Retinyl proprionate
- active in human skin
- elicits retinoid like effects
- much less irritative profile
- stabile ester, prolonged half life when delivered topically
Retinyl palmitate
- predominant form of retinol storage
- weak activity profile
- not commonly used
What are the indications for tretinoin Tx?
- Acne
- Photo-damaged skin
Bench-mark agent for topical Tx
Side effects of irritation
What is Adapalene?
Synthetic retinoid analogue
Mimics tretinoin nit has fewer side effects
What are the indications for Adapalene Tx?
- Acne (0.1%)
Only licensed for above but likely to have restorative effects on photo-damaged skin
What is Tazarotene?
Synthetic analogue of retinoid
What are the indications for Tazarotene Tx?
- Plaque psoriasis
- Acne
- Photo-damaged skin
SE: dryness and peeling can be v. significant
What are the B vitamins?
B1 - Thiamine B2 - Riboflavin B3 - Niacinamide B5 - Pantothenic acid and Pro-Vitamin B5 B6 - Pyroxidine B7 - Biotin B9 - Folic acid B12 - Cobalamin
What are the skin conditions treated by vitamin B?
- Acne
- Wounds
- Dryness
- Blotchinesss
- Hyperpigmentation
- Texture
- Yellowness/sallowness