Sun Burn and Pain

Sunburn Study May Lead To Drugs To Treat Pain In Other Common Conditions.

Reuters (7/7, Kelland) reports that, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers have found a molecule in the body, CXCL5, which controls sensitivity to pain from UVB irradiation. The molecule may help them develop new treatments to treat pain in other conditions, according to the researchers.

        The USA Today (7/6, Lebowitz) "Science Fair" blog reported CXCL5 "recruits immune cells to human flesh exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays, swelling the skin and triggering pain and tenderness." The researchers "exposed numerous samples of human and rat skin to different types of solar waves." After looking at the skin samples under a microscope, the researchers "observed a variety of proteins in the damaged tissue, including large quantities of CXCL5. Such abundance of the protein is what causes the skin tissue to redden and blister when in the presence the sun's harmful rays."

        Also covering the story were, on its website, ABC News (7/6, Moisse), the Wall Street Journal (7/6, Hobson, Subscription Publication) "Health Blog," the UK's Telegraph (7/7, Collins), BBC News (7/6) and WebMD (7/6, Warner).

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Vitamin D Protective of Type 2 Diabetes

Higher Blood Levels Of Vitamin D Associated With Reduced Type 2 Diabetes Risk.

Bloomberg News (6/25, Ostrow) reported, "Vitamin D may help prevent those at risk for diabetes from developing the disease, giving doctors and patients a potential tool against the condition," according to research presented at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting. In a study involving "2,039 people with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, a condition called prediabetes," researchers found that "patients with the highest amounts of vitamin D in their body were about 25 percent less likely than those with the lowest amounts to develop type 2 diabetes."

        The study's lead author theorized that "vitamin D might play a role in diabetes by improving insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity," Medscape (6/25, Hitt) reported.

        Vitamin D May Be Linked To Reduced Heart Risks In Men. Reuters (6/25, Norton) reported that, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, males who take in recommended amounts of vitamin D may have a lower risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke compared to those who take in little vitamin D. Investigators looked at data on approximately 119,000 adults for about 20 years. They found that males who took in 600 IU or more daily were 16 percent less likely to experience stroke or heart problems compared to males who took in less than 100 IU daily.

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Alcohol Abuse and Psoriasis

Patients With Moderate To Severe Psoriasis May Have High Rates Of Alcohol Misuse.

MedWire (6/24, Davenport) reported, "Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis have high rates of alcohol misuse," according to a study published in the June issue of the British Journal of Dermatology. In a study involving 135 patients diagnosed with moderate to severe psoriasis, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test and the CAGE questionnaire "scales identified 21% of the patients as having difficulties with alcohol, while" the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test "score indicated that 32% of individuals had current hazardous drinking habits."

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"Natural" Wart Remover Recall

FDA: Wart, Mole Remover Sold Online Recalled.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune (6/27, Friedmann) "The Whistleblower" blog reported that, the Nature Relief Instant Wart and Mole Remover, "a product marketed as a treatment for warts and moles, is being recalled after the product burned the skin of at least one customer, the US Food and Drug Administration announced last week." According to the FDA, "the active ingredient, calcium oxide, can cause severe burns, especially if applied to thin or sensitive skin, and customers should put the product in a plastic bag and throw it away." The product "was only sold online directly to consumers by Nature Relief."

        MedPage Today (6/27, Gever) reported, "Nature Relief had sold the product exclusively through direct sales to consumers via the internet. It was sold as a kit including containers labeled 'removal cream,' 'repair cream,' 'antiseptic wash,' and 'triple antibiotic ointment,' along with toothpicks and other implements." What's more, the FDA advised that "consumers are recommended to have moles reviewed by licensed medical professionals and ensure they are not cancerous."

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Vitamin D and Skin Cancer

Vitamin D, Calcium May Prevent Skin Cancer In Women With Prior History.

Medscape (7/5, Mulcahy) reported that although Vitamin D and calcium do not reduce the overall rate of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in post-menopausal women, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that, in women with "history of NMSC, calcium plus vitamin D supplementation reduced subsequent melanoma risk, suggesting a potential role for the supplements in this high-risk subgroup." The authors note that 176 cases of melanoma developed in the participants, and conclude that larger studies are necessary for similarly rare cancers. Medscape notes that the study "used 400 IU of Vitamin D, which is lower than the daily recommended amount of 600 IU. The next trial may use up to 4000 IU, which is the limit suggested by the Institute of Medicine."

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Vit D and Melanoma Protection

Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements May Lower Melanoma Risk For Some Women.

Reuters (6/27, Pittman) reported that taking a vitamin D and calcium supplement may help some women reduce their risk for developing melanoma, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researchers analyzed medical data from roughly 36,000 women between the age 50 and 79, were randomized to either take both calcium (1,000 mg) and vitamin D3 (400 IUs) supplements or placebo, daily for seven years. The study team found that women who previously had non-melanoma skin cancer were less likely to get melanoma, if they were in the calcium and vitamin D group.

        HealthDay (6/27, Reinberg) reported that the women taking the supplements who had had previous non-melanoma skin cancer reduced their risk of developing melanoma "by 57 percent," compared with women taking the placebo supplements. The study's lead author "speculated that cancer cells lurking in the skin of women who have had a previous skin cancer may be waiting to develop into melanoma. 'But if they take calcium and vitamin D that reduces the risk of developing an actual tumor,' she said." Although the US Institute of Medicine "recommends 600 IU of vitamin D" daily, the findings indicated that as little as 400 IU "may be protective," she added.

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laViv (azfibrocel-T),

FDA Approves Treatment That Uses Patient's Own Cells To Restore Skin Elasticity.

Bloomberg News (6/23, Peterson) reports Fibrocell Science won Food and Drug Administration "approval for an injectible wrinkle treatment that uses a patient's own cells to restore elasticity to the skin." The treatment, called laViv (azfibrocel-T), "will be Fibrocell's initial marketed product and the first wrinkle smoother made from a patient's cells."

        The New York Times (6/22, Pollack) "Prescriptions" blog reported the treatment "involves taking a sample of skin cells called fibroblasts, which make collagen, from behind the person's ear." Next, the "sample is sent to the company's laboratory, where the fibroblasts are multiplied in cell culture, a process that takes 11 to 22 weeks." Finally, "the cells are then sent back to the doctor, who injects them into the smile lines, (or frown lines), which are technically known as nasolabial folds."

        AFP (6/23) reports, "Fibrocell said the FDA approval came after two phase III randomized, double blind trials of 421 patients who received either laViv or a placebo in three treatments about five weeks apart." AFP reports, "In one study, 57 percent of patients on laViv saw an improvement compared to 30 percent who received the placebo treatment, according to a summary of the research published by the New York Times. In the other, 45 percent of patients receiving laViv thought they looked better afterward, compared to 18 percent in the control group." Medscape (6/22, Brooks) also covered the story.

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Men Undergoing More Cosmetic Procedures

Men Underwent 1.2 Million Cosmetic Procedures In 2010.

The Washington Post (6/21, Tamura) reports, "Men had 1.2 million cosmetic procedures last year, up two percent from 2009, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons." Psychologist Ann Kearney-Cooke, PhD, of the Cincinnati Psychotherapy Institute, explained that "society is much more image-conscious, and male patients from their mid-30s through their 60s say looks are important to both social and professional success," particularly in a tight and highly competitive job market.

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Dyport Over Botox

AbobotulinumtoxinA Trumps OnabotulinumtoxinA At Smoothing Crow's Feet Wrinkles.

MedPage Today (6/20, Bankhead) reported, "Crow's feet responded significantly better to treatment with abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) than with onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox)," according to an article published online June 20 in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. In a study of 90 patients, 77 of which were women, doctors "and patients alike rated the cosmetic results of Dysport superior to those of the comparator (P=0.01, P=0.03, respectively)." What's more, "patients favored the Dysport-treated side of the face by a 2:1 margin during the 30-day split-face trial."

        HealthDay (6/20, Mozes) reported that Allergan, the maker of Botox, "issued a statement Monday that challenged the findings on several grounds, which included the small size of the study, the short length of the trial and, most importantly, the dosing ratio the researchers used when deciding how much of each product to use on the patients' faces." Dermatologist Doris Day, MD, of New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital, who was not involved in the study, "also cautioned that the attempt to analytically stack two 'very similar' drugs against one another can pose difficulties." She pointed out, however, that "both drugs are FDA-approved and have good safety track records to date."

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Mouse Study Reveals How Hair Begins Graying.

Mouse Study Reveals How Hair Begins Graying.

HealthDay (6/16, Dallas) reported that the roots of gray hair "may lie in a particular type of communication between hair follicles and melanocyte stem cells, the cells that make and store the pigments in skin and hair," according to a lab study published in the journal Cell. Using mouse models, the researchers determined that the "lack of Wnt activation in melanocyte stem cells leads to de-pigmented, or gray hair." They also found that "abnormal Wnt signaling in hair follicle stem cells prevents hair re-growth."

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Scar Dressings

New Silicone Wound Dressing May Reduce Surgical Scars.

The UK's Daily Mail (6/14, Hagan) reported that, according to research published in the Annals of Surgery, "a revolutionary type of wound dressing could reduce scars caused by surgery. The dressing, made from a form of silicone, is stretched over the wound and left in place for up to eight weeks. It works by reducing the tension on the skin that leads to scarring." Researchers from Stanford University have tested the dressing in pigs and "on a group of nine women who had undergone tummy-tuck surgery, a procedure which normally leaves scars that are both wide and thick." Wounds treated with the new dressing showed considerably less scarring, the study authors reported.

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New Sunscreen Monograph

FDA Issues New Guidelines For Sunscreen Labeling.

The Food and Drug Administration's long-awaited announcement yesterday of significant changes to sunscreen labeling was widely reported both by television and print media. The changes will empower consumers to make better decisions in choosing a product to prevent sun damage as well as reduce overall confusion about sunscreens.

        The CBS Evening News (6/14, story 9, 0:30, Pelley) reported, "The government put out new rules today for sunscreens. From now on, the gold standard will be broad-spectrum protection. Manufacturers may put that on the label only if the sunscreen protects [against] ultraviolet B which causes burning and ultraviolet A which causes wrinkling." Both forms of UV rays "cause skin cancer, and only sunscreens with an SPF 15 or higher may claim to lower the risk of cancer."

        On NBC Nightly News (6/14, lead story, 2:50, Williams), chief medical editor Nancy Snyderman, MD, explained, "One of the biggest changes is this, a drug facts label showing ingredients and differentiating between products that protect against cancer from those that only prevent sunburn." The FDA's Janet Woodcock, MD, was shown saying, "We've heard from many surveys that we've done this really helps people access information. So we're adding the drug facts box just like is found on other OTC drugs."

        On ABC World News (6/14, lead story, 3:20, Sawyer), correspondent Lisa Stark pointed out why the change is so important. "Despite the explosion of sales of sunscreens, there's also been an explosion of skin cancer," as evidenced by the fact that "cases of the most deadly kind of skin cancer, melanoma, increased 45% between 1992 and 2004," particularly in young people. Ronald Moy, MD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, was shown saying, "Now, melanoma's the most common form of cancer for young adults in their late 20s."

        In a follow-on analysis piece on ABC World News (6/14, story 2, 1:15, Sawyer), chief health and medical editor Richard Besser, MD, explained that the action taken by the FDA on sunscreen labeling was "done five years ago" by European regulators. Besser suggested that consumers looking for sunscreen should examine "the UVB number. I recommend 30, at least. That will protect you against that. But for UVA, you need to go to" a list put together by Consumer Reports specifically for products "tested for UVA. By next year you'll be able to trust the labels for everything."

        The AP (6/15, Perrone) reports that beginning next summer, if sunscreens do not protect against both UVA and UVB rays, "or the sun protection factor is below 15," then sunscreens must "carry a warning: 'This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.'" The AP quotes AAD's Moy as saying, "For the first time, the FDA has clearly defined the testing required to make a broad-spectrum protection claim in a sunscreen and indicate which type of sunscreen can reduce skin cancer risk."

        Bloomberg News (6/15, Larkin) reports, "Lawmakers have urged the FDA for more than a decade to revise sunscreen labels to address cancer-causing UVA rays that penetrate deeper into skin cells and aren't blocked by window glass." Unfortunately, "'twenty percent of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime,' said" Moy at yesterday's press conference at FDA's headquarters. "Ultraviolet exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer."

        The Los Angeles Times (6/15, Maugh) reports that the FDA "has been considering such regulations since 1978 and released some proposed rules in 2007, but subsequently concluded that the labeling system under consideration would be too confusing for consumers."

        The Washington Post (6/15, Stein) reports that "the agency is barring the use of the term 'sunblock' as well as claims that sunscreens are 'waterproof' or 'sweatproof,' saying those terms are inaccurate." Under the new guidelines, "sunscreen makers will only be allowed to claim that products are 'water-resistant' and will have to specify whether they work for 40 or 80 minutes." Sunscreens "that do not must carry warnings advising people to use a water-resistant product if they are going to be exposed to water or sweat."

        On its front page, the New York Times (6/15, A1, Harris, Subscription Publication) reports that FDA "regulators said they had yet to decide whether to end an SPF arms race in which manufacturers are introducing sunscreens with SPF numbers of 70, 80 and 100, even though such lotions offer little more protection than those with an SPF of 50." In fact, the FDA "had proposed allowing manufacturers to use SPF numbers no higher than 50, but that remains only a proposal (pdf) for which the agency will seek further comment." Nevertheless, many dermatologists are enthusiastic about the new rule. "Now, we'll be able to tell patients which sunscreens to get," said Henry W. Lim, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology.

        USA Today (6/15, Szabo) reports that currently, "the American Academy of Dermatology recommends both adults and children use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30." It is important to use enough of the product, too. Dermatologist Henry W. Lim, MD, explained that "the average person needs about one ounce of sunscreen – enough to fill a shot glass – to cover the body." Most people use considerably less.

        Also covering the story are the UK's Financial Times (6/15, Rappeport, Subscription Publication), the Wall Street Journal (615, D1, Dooren, Subscription Publication), the Wall Street Journal (6/15, Hobson, Subscription Publication) "Health Blog," the Washington Post (6/15, Petri) "ComPost" blog, the Star-Ledger (6/15, Todd), the CNN (6/14, Willingham) "The Chart" blog, the Columbus Dispatch (6/15, Jacobson), the NPR (6/14, Thrasybule) "Shots" blog, WebMD (6/14, DeNoon), HealthDay (6/14, Reinberg), MedPage Today (6/14, Walker), and Reuters (6/14). An FDA webcast of the press conference announcing the rule is available for viewing here.

        Myrtle Beach Dermatologist Says FDA Rule Is Insufficient. On its website, WPDE-TV Myrtle Beach, SC (6/14, Theis) reports, however, that a local dermatologist "says the dermatologist community was disappointed with the outcome of the regulations released today. 'Many doctors were hoping for more clarity in the muddled confusion of SPF, oxides, and other ingredients that often can confuse consumers,'" says Dr. Robert Bibb of Waccamaw Dermatology. He adds that doctors wanted a measurement system on sunscreen labels enabling consumer to understand a product's effectiveness in blocking UV-A rays. "SPF is B-rays only," he notes.

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