Annual Economic Cost of Psoriasis Estimated at over $110 Billion

A review article on the the effect of Psoriasis on the U.S economy was published online by JAMA Dermatology. The authors reviewed factors that have a direct, indirect, intangible and comorbidity (presence of one or more additional disorders) costs of adult psoriasis and estimate that the annual U.S. cost of psoriasis for 2013 to be between $112 billion and $135 billion.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It causes the skin to be irritable and form thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. These scales are dead skin cells that form on the surface.

The disease occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy skin cells as a threat and attacks it. It sends out a signal to speed up the growth of new skin cells. Dead skin cells builds up on the skin surface which become scales.

By releasing an estimated annual cost of the Psoriasis, researchers believe it will help develop cost effective therapies that will help alleviate this economic burden and improve patient outcome.

Computer Simulation Accurately Predicts Blood Vessel Growth

Bioengineers from the University of Utah created a computer simulation that accurately maps blood vessel growth. This can help in the further treatments to provide better blood supply to skin grafts and implanted ligament and tendon, as well as tissues damaged by diabetes and heart attack.

The image on the left in green, show real blood vessels growing in culture while the right image in red, is the computer simulation of the blood vessel growth. The simulation is based on the study and use of real blood vessels from rats.

Additionally, the top images show real and simulated blood vessel growth when vessel fragments are placed in an "extracellular matrix" of collagen with a relatively low density. The middle and bottom images show how blood vessel growth is impeded when they are placed in collagen matrix with medium and higher density, respectively.

The physical and mechanical properties of the collagen are highlighted by the simulation showing that a denser collagen matrix makes it hard for blood vessels to form a network. By accurately predicting the growth and spread of the blood vessels, bioengineers can prepare implantable tissues that already contain blood vessels that match a patient's blood vessel structure.

This technology can provide better treatment by replacing damaged heart tissues, reconstructing ligaments and tendon, and skin grafts to stimulate blood flow to promote healing of diabetic ulcers.

Aquarium Based Skin Disease Caused by Mycobacterium Marinum Bacteria is Under-diagnosed

Aquarium Granuloma, a skin disease that is commonly associated with aquariums is under-diagnosed according to a study presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America's annual meeting in San Francisco.

Aquarium granuloma is caused by the Mycobacterium marinum bacteria. The bacteria is a a non-tuberculous mycobacterium found in non-chlorinated water. Infection starts when an open wound on the arm or hand is exposed to the bacteria. The disease causes skin lesions and takes from 11 to 56 days to incubate.

People most susceptible to Aquarium Granuloma are those who work with fish or own aquariums

According to the study, patients with the disease may not associate it with aquariums because of the prolonged incubation period. Also, people do not usually tend to think of aquariums being host to bacteria. This may lead to the patient not getting the appropriate treatment.

Using Virus and Viral Products To Treat Acne and Other Skin Conditions

Acne is the most common skin disease. It is a condition that causes pimples on the surface of the skin. These are normally called "zits". Zits are a result of excess oil that gets trapped in the pores of the skin. The oil blocks the pores which leads to a build up of bacteria and eventually infection.

Acne is most prevalent among pre-teens approaching puberty and teenagers. 80% of teenagers suffer from acne, making the disease the most common skin disease. It is the most consulted skin condition among dermatologists. Acne is not confined to teenagers alone. Many adults also suffer from the it.

The most common location for acne is the face.

Acne is not harmful. It does cause discomfort but it is not life threatening. What is of concern with acne is that it may cause some psychological effects on patients specially with teens. Acne affects the person's self confidence, self image, and how he or she interact with the people around.

There are medical treatments of acne available. Some popular treatments are epiduo and doxycycline, which is an antibiotic.Epiduo Gel contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, a common treatment used for acne.

Other remedies for acne is thyme which is becoming a popular "organic" alternative. Thyme contains thymol which is an antispetic. Scientists are also looking at nanotechnology and coconut oil which contains lauric acid as another alternative treatment to acne. Lauric acid has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties that can be used against the acne bacteria.

Could viruses be used to treat acne?

Scientists have isolated and studied the genomes of 11 viruses, known as phage, that can infect and kill the acne-causing bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, potentially paving the way for topical therapies that use viruses or viral products to treat this vexing skin condition. Their results are reported in the September 25 issue of mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

"There are two fairly obvious potential directions that could exploit this kind of research," says Graham Hatfull of the University of Pittsburgh, an author of the study. "The first is the possibility of using the phages directly as a therapy for acne. The second is the opportunity to use phage-derived components for their activities."

The Biological Mechanism Of Sunburn

A sunburn is a condition when sunlight or ultraviolet light the skin is exposed to, exceeds the normal amount it can take and damages the exposed area. The skin has melanin which serves as the protective pigment from ultraviolet light. When there is too much ultraviolet light, the layer of skin starts to burn forming reddish skin.

Minor exposure results in a suntan although excessive amounts can be dangerous and even lethal. A serious sunburn is as serious as a thermal burn, and may have the same systemic effects such as blistering, edema and fever.

The symptoms of a sunburn are usually temporary but the damage done can be permanent and even have long term health effects such as skin cancer. Sunburn symptoms can include:

• Red, tender skin that is warm to touch.
• Blisters
• Sun Poisoning that induces fever, chills, nausea, or rash
• Skin peeling on sunburned areas

Blisters and skin peeling usually manifest itself hours or even days later.

Researchers describe inflammatory mechanism for first time

The biological mechanism of sunburn – the reddish, painful, protective immune response from ultraviolet (UV) radiation – is a consequence of RNA damage to skin cells, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and elsewhere in the July 8, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.

The findings open the way to perhaps eventually blocking the inflammatory process, the scientists said, and have implications for a range of medical conditions and treatments.

Protein Molecule REG3A Lead To New And Better Treatment of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.

It is a common skin condition that is not contagious. Psoriasis is identified by dry, red patches of thick skin (called scales) resulting from rapid build up of skin cells. The redness and irritation are usually found around the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp but can affect any area of the human body.

It is considered an autoimmune disease since the immune system mistakes the skin as a pathogen (infecting agent) and attacks by sending out signals to speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. The difference between psoriasis and other autoimmune disease is that unlike regular autoimmune diseases, there is no presence of any substance that activates the production of antibodies (antigen) to trigger an attack.

Skin cells are replaced about once a month in a process called cell turnover. These cells grow deep in the skin and rises above to replace old skin cells. In psoriasis, because of the signals from the immune system, the process is sped up and is done within days rather than in a month. The dead skin cells then accumulate on the skin surface as newer skin cells are pushed up due to the heightened cell turnover process.

Protein may be key to psoriasis and wound care

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder in which skin cells proliferate out of control. For some hard-to-heal wounds, the problem is just the opposite: Restorative skin cells don't grow well or fast enough. In a paper published in the June 21, 2012 issue of Immunity, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine describe a molecule that may lead to new treatments for both problems.

An international team of scientists led by principal investigator Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and chief of UC San Diego's Division of Dermatology, analyzed skin biopsies of patients with and without psoriasis, as well as the skin of mice with psoriasis and with wounds on their backs. They discovered that a molecule called regenerating islet-derived protein 3-alpha (REG3A) is highly expressed in skin cells during psoriasis and wound-healing, but not under normal skin conditions.

Coconut Oil (Lauric Acid) Treatment of Acne With Bio Nanotechnology

Scientists and researchers have been busy finding the best treatment for acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples or "zits." These are spots that results from excess oil getting trapped in the skin pores which results in blockages, infection and build up of bacteria.

Recent studies have shown thyme as an effective treatment as well as a combined therapy of Epiduo Gel and Doxycycline. Another promising drug that is both natural and inexpensive is lauric acid found in coconut milk.

Lauric Acid

Lauric acid is a saturated fatty acid, specifically a medium chain fatty acid because of its 12 carbon atom chain. It is mainly found in coconut oil, laurel oil, and in palm kernel oil, comprising more than 50% of the fatty acid content in these oils.

Lauric acid is a white, powdery solid with a faint odor of bay oil or soap. It can also be found in human breast milk, cow's milk, and goat's milk. It has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties when present in the hyman body.

Because of these properties, lauric acid is being studied as a possible new acne treatment. Common acne (acne vulgaris) afflicts around than 85 percent of teenagers and over 40 million people in the United States, including adults.

Treating Acne with Coconut Oil

Current acne treatments have unwanted side effcts that include redness and burning. Because of the inherent properties of lauric acid, these could be avoided. University of California San Diego are researching coconut oil treatments for acne.

Graduate student Dissaya "Nu" Pornpattananangkul, who performs this research in the Nanomaterials and Nanomedicine Laboratory of UC San Diego NanoEngineering professor Liangfang Zhang from the Jacobs School of Engineering, says "It's a good feeling to know that I have a chance to develop a drug that could help people with acne,"

Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) May Protect Against Skin Cancer

In a previous article, , NSAIDs were the subject of a study relating them to cardiovascular risk. Now, it seems that these class of drugs can have a role in the fight against skin cancer.

NSAIDs are Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs. They are also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents/analgesics (NSAIAs) or nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs). These are medication that have analgesic and antipyretic (fever reducing) effects as well as anti-inflammatory effects.

Popular among NSAIDs are the over the counter drugs, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

Consumer Reports based on their comprehensive reviews of the scientific evidence state that "all NSAIDs should be used with caution: they can cause serious side effects, including stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attack, and stroke. NSAIDs (except low–dose aspirin) may not be appropriate for people at risk of heart disease or stroke..."

Commonly used painkillers may protect against skin cancer

A new study suggests that aspirin and other similar painkillers may help protect against skin cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that skin cancer prevention may be added to the benefits of these commonly used medications.

Previous studies suggest that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well as a variety of other nonprescription and prescription drugs, can decrease an individual's risk of developing some types of cancer. Sigrún Alba Jóhannesdóttir, BSc, of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, and her colleagues looked to see if the medications might decrease the risk of the three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.

Combined Therapy of Epiduo Gel and Doxycycline Provides Powerful Treatment for Acne

Each pore on the surface of the skin is an opening to a canal called a follicle. The follicle also contains a hair and an oil gland (sebaceous gland). The oil gland helps remove old skin cells, keeps the skin lubricated, and prevents drying of tissues.

According to two published studies, a combined therapy of common acne medications have shown to be a powerful and potent regiment in the treatment of sever facial acne.

Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples or "zits." These are spots that results from excess oil getting trapped in the skin pores which results in blockages, infection and build up of bacteria.

It is the most common skin disease. It affects 80% of teenagers and many adults, especially women, 35% being between the ages of 30 and 40. 80% of professional consultations with dermatologists is about acne. While it isn't a life threatening disease, acne can have profound psychological effects on patients, says study co-author and dermatologist Linda Stein Gold, M.D., director of Clinical Research of Dermatology at Henry Ford.

The studies found that a combined therapy of the topical Epiduo Gel containing adapalene and benzoyl peroxide and the antibiotic doxycycline proved more effective at reducing acne lesions compared to other treatment regimens.

Color of Eyes May Affect Risk of Skin Conditions Like Melanoma and Vitiligo

A study shows that melanoma and vitiligo, both skin conditions, may be affected by what color eyes a person has.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is the leading cause of death from skin disease. 75% of deaths from skin cancers is caused by Melanoma.

Melanoma is caused by changes in melanocytes, turning to malignant tumors. Melanocytes are skin cells that produces melanin, a skin pigment. The melanin in the cells is responsible for the color of the skin and hair.

Although very dangerous, melanoma is not as common as other skin cancers.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in depigmentation. Depigmentation are irregular coloration or white patches in some areas of skin. This is caused by a loss of brown color or pigment from areas of skin affected.

It is the complete loss of melanin in the skin.

This occurs when the immune starts to destroys melanocytes which are responsible for the coloration of the skin. This condition is believed to be an autoimmune problem but some studies suggest it is also an acquired condition. The cause of vitiligo is still unknown.

Vitiligo occues in the same areas of the face or it may appear in patches. With vitiligo, the skin maintains the same texture but appears flat and depigmented.

Eye color may indicate risk for serious skin conditions

Eye color may be an indicator of whether a person is high-risk for certain serious skin conditions. A study, led by the University of Colorado School of Medicine, shows people with blue eyes are less likely to have vitiligo. It then follows, according to scientists, that people with brown eyes may be less likely to have melanoma. Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease in which pigment loss results in irregular white patches of skin and hair. Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

March of Dimes Awards Prize in Developmental Biology To Two Pioneering Scientists In Skin Biology

The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) was created in 1938 by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's mission was to lead, direct, and unify the fight against polio. At the time, polio was a paralyzing viral disease that affected children. The NFIP's annual event was called The March of Dimes which gradually became synonymous with that of the organization.

In 1958, The March of Dimes changed it's mission from fighting polio to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, infant mortality, and premature birth.

Currently, The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

March of Dimes awards $250,000 prize to 2 scientists who pioneered advances in skin disorders

Honorees revealed workings of skin stem cells and developed skin grafts for burn victims

Two scientists who have revolutionized the understanding of skin biology, creating crucial advances in treating skin cancers and other diseases as well as severe burns, have been chosen to receive the 2012 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology.

Howard Green, MD, George Higginson Professor of Cell Biology, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, and Elaine Fuchs, PhD, Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology & Development, Howard Hughes Medical Investigator, Rockefeller University, will share this year's prize.

Rare Mutations in Card14 Gene Linked To Cause Psoriasis

Scientists have identified the first gene that can activate plaque psoriasis, the most common form of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. People with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. These are dead skin cells that have built up on the surface. It must be stressed that psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be spread to others.

It is generally accepted that the skin condition can be hereditary, passing down through families. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy cells as a threat. It sends out a signal to speed up the growth of new skin cells.

Skin cells grow deep in the skin and rise to the surface about once a month in a process called cell turnover. In psoriasis, because the immune system instructs the body to generate skin cells, the process is too fast, cell turnover is done within days and not the usual one month, that dead skin cells builds up on the skin surface.

First gene linked to common form of psoriasis identified

Scientists led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified the first gene directly linked to the most common form of psoriasis, a chronic skin condition.

The research shows that rare mutations in the CARD14 gene, when activated by an environmental trigger, can lead to plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis accounts for 80 percent of all cases and is characterized by dry, raised, red patches covered with silvery scales that can be itchy and painful.

The new findings also indicate that mutations in CARD14 can be involved in the pustular form of psoriasis and in a debilitating arthritis linked to the psoriasis. The discovery may lead to more effective, targeted therapies for plaque psoriasis and other forms of the disease.