The direct use of naturally occurring, small molecular ingredients in bioinspired sunscreens has raised several concerns due to the instability, photocytotoxicity, and potential blood toxicity of ...those ingredients. In this work, we have employed natural ultraviolet (UV)-blocking molecule caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) from propolis to prepare poly(CAPE) nanoparticles (NPs) as the main bioactive ingredient to fabricate propolis-inspired hydrogel sunscreens. Compared with small molecular CAPE, poly(CAPE) NPs exhibited better dispersion and stability in water, as well as lower physiological toxicity and skin permeability. And the resulting composite hydrogels demonstrated promising properties including water-resistant whereas can be easily erased by warm water as well as safety when interacting with skin. More importantly, the hydrogel sunscreens showed excellent UV protection properties both
in vitro
and
in vivo
, and the positive effects in maintaining skin barrier functions. This work provides new strategies towards the facile construction of nature-inspired robust sunscreens in the future.
Summary
Sun protection is a major concern for outdoor workers as they are particularly exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation and therefore at increased risk of developing some forms of skin cancer, ...cataract and ocular neoplasm. In order to provide an overview of outdoor workers’ sun‐related knowledge, attitudes and protective behaviours as reported in the literature and to evaluate the effectiveness of sun‐safety education programmes in outdoor occupational settings, we conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO) from their inception up to 25 April 2012. An extensive hand search complemented the database searches. We identified 34 relevant articles on descriptive studies and 18 articles on interventional studies. Considerable numbers of outdoor workers were found to have sun‐sensitive skin types; sunburn rates per season ranged from 50% to 80%. Data concerning outdoor workers’ sun‐related knowledge and attitudes were scarce and controversial. The reported sun‐protective behaviours were largely inadequate, with many workers stating that they never or only rarely wore a long‐sleeved shirt (50–80%), sun‐protective headgear (30–80%) and sunscreen (30–100%) while working in the sun. However, there is growing evidence that occupational sun‐safety education is effective in increasing outdoor workers’ sun‐protection habits and presumably in decreasing sunburn rates. Occupational sun‐safety education programmes offer great potential for improving outdoor workers’ largely insufficient sun‐protective behaviours. It is hoped that, in the future, committed support from healthcare authorities, cancer foundations, employers and dermatologists will open the way for rapid and uncomplicated implementation of sun‐safety education programmes.
What’s already known about this topic?
•
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) plays a key role in the aetiology of skin cancer.
•
Occupational UVR‐exposure limits are greatly exceeded in various typical outdoor occupations.
•
Outdoor workers are at increased risk of developing nonmelanocytic skin cancers compared with indoor workers.
What does this study add?
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Outdoor workers’ sun‐protective behaviours are largely inadequate and sunburn rates are high.
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Sun‐safety education in outdoor occupational settings has proven effective in fostering outdoor workers’ sun‐protection habits.
A simple approach was employed to fabricate hybrid titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) nanoparticles and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) embedded with lithium ...bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) on a p-type of silicon (p-Si) substrate by utilizing the drop-casting method. The structural analysis was conducted using Raman spectroscopy. A UV radiation source with a wavelength of 365 nm and an intensity of 200 mW cm
−2
was utilized to observe the alteration in conductivity under both illuminated and non-illuminated conditions. The device consisting of TiO
2
/PEDOT:PSS/LiTFSI demonstrated a responsivity of 25.3%, and the response/recovery times were obtained to be 467/577 seconds, respectively. The responsivity of the CQDs:TiO
2
/PEDOT:SS/LiTFSI device was measured to be 22.2%, and the response/recovery times were found to be 300/393 seconds, respectively. The design methodology employed in our approach holds promise for application in the fabrication of different sensors capable of detecting harmful UV rays, which is known to contribute to premature aging, sunburn, cataracts, skin cancer, and a range of other UV-related dermatological conditions.
Painful sunburns are implicated in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation is known as the most important ...risk factor for the development of actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of painful sunburns and lifetime sun exposure on the development of actinic keratoses and seborrheic warts in relation to the development of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, and on the development of melanocytic nevi and atypical nevi in relation to the development of malignant melanoma. We made use of a cohort of 966 individuals who participated in a case-control study to investigate environmental and genetic risk factors for skin cancer. Exposure measurements for sunlight were collected and actinic keratoses, seborrheic warts, melanocytic nevi, and atypical nevi were counted. Relative risks were estimated using exposure odds ratios from cross-tabulation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. The recall of painful sunburns before the age of 20 y was associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, nodular basal cell carcinoma, and multifocal superficial basal cell carcinoma as well as actinic keratoses. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals adjusted for age, sex, and skin type were 1.5 (0.97; 2.3); 1.6 (1.1; 2.2); 2.6 (1.7; 3.8); and 1.9 (1.4; 2.6) for the three types of nonmelanoma skin cancer and actinic keratoses, respectively. Painful sunburns before the age of 20 y were also associated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma and the development of its precursors, melanocytic nevi and atypical nevi. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals adjusted for age, sex, and skin type were 1.4 (0.86; 2.1); 1.5 (1.1; 2.0); and 1.4 (0.88; 2.3) for malignant melanoma and the two types of precursors, respectively. Lifetime sun exposure was predominantly associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (p-value for trend=0.03) and actinic keratoses (p-value for trend <0.0001) and to a lesser degree with the two types of basal cell carcinoma. By contrast, lifetime sun exposure appeared to be associated with a lower risk of malignant melanoma, despite the fact that lifetime sun exposure did not diminish the number of melanocytic nevi or atypical nevi. Neither painful sunburns nor lifetime sun exposure were associated with an increased risk of seborrheic warts.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin and systemic disorder that affects 3.2% of the U.S. population, including 1% of children. It is an immune-mediated process triggered by an interplay of genetic, ...environmental, physical (e.g., skin trauma), and infectious factors. Associated comorbidities include cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Psoriasis presents in various forms, including plaque, guttate, erythrodermic, pustular, inverse, nail, and psoriatic arthritis. The most common form is plaque psoriasis, which affects 90% of adults with psoriasis. Psoriasis is diagnosed clinically based on the presence of characteristic erythematous, scaly skin plaques in typical locations, with associated history and systemic symptoms. Treatment strategies are similar for most forms of psoriasis and based on body surface area involved. Topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, and tazarotene are used to treat mild to moderate disease. Systemic treatment with nonbiologic and biologic agents and ultraviolet B phototherapy are used for moderate to severe disease, with the exception of apremilast, a systemic agent approved for mild psoriasis. Disease management is improved with maintaining ideal body weight, avoiding tobacco products, limiting alcohol, and practicing stress reduction techniques. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index is a tool to assess severity and monitor treatment effectiveness over time. Special consideration is needed for treatment of children and patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive.
Each year in the United States over 80 million people participate in bat-and-ball sports, for example baseball and softball. Cricket, the world's second most popular sport, is enjoyed by hundreds of ...millions of participants in such countries as India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. Although any player can develop skin disease as a result of participation in these bat-and-ball sports, competitive team athletes are especially prone to skin problems related to infection, trauma, allergy, solar exposure, and other causes. These diseases can produce symptoms that hinder individual athletic performance and participation. In this review, we discuss the diagnosis and best-practice management of skin diseases that can develop as a result of participation in baseball, softball, and cricket.
Nutritional protection against skin damage from sunlight is increasingly advocated to the general public, but its effectiveness is controversial. In this meta‐analysis, we have systematically ...reviewed the existing literature on human supplementation studies on dietary protection against sunburn by beta‐carotene. A review of literature until June 2007 was performed in PubMed, ISI Web of Science and EBM Cochrane library and identified a total of seven studies which evaluated the effectiveness of β‐carotene in protection against sunburn. Data were ed from these studies by means of a standardized data collection protocol. The subsequent meta‐analysis showed that (1) β‐carotene supplementation protects against sunburn and (2) the study duration had a significant influence on the effected size. Regression plot analysis revealed that protection required a minimum of 10 weeks of supplementation with a mean increase of the protective effect of 0.5 standard deviations with every additional month of supplementation. Thus, dietary supplementation of humans with β‐carotene provides protection against sunburn in a time‐dependent manner.
We evaluated the impact of a mailed, tailored intervention on skin cancer prevention and skin self-examination behaviors of adults at moderate and high risk for skin cancer.
Adults at moderate and ...high risk for skin cancer were recruited in primary health care settings in Honolulu, HI, and Long Island, NY. After completing a baseline survey, participants were randomized to 2 groups. The treatment group received tailored materials, including personalized risk feedback, and the control group received general educational materials. Multivariate analyses compared sun protection and skin self-examination between groups, controlling for location, risk level, gender, and age.
A total of 596 adults completed the trial. The tailored materials had a significant effect on overall sun-protection habits, the use of hats, the use of sunglasses, and the recency of skin self-examination. Some effects were moderated by location and risk level.
Tailored communications including personalized risk feedback can improve sun-protection behaviors and skin self-examination among adults at increased risk for skin cancer. These convenient, low-cost interventions can be implemented in a variety of settings and should be tested further to assess their long-term effectiveness.
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