Acta dermato-venereologica
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Sep 1992
The increase in skin hydration after application of emollients with different amounts of lipids.
Emollients can increase the water content in the stratum corneum by delivery of their water to the skin, and by occlusion. These two mechanisms were studied using three preparations with different concentrations of lipids. The products were applied to the skin and then removed by cleaning the surface after 5 and 40 min. ⋯ The occlusion caused an increase of water in the skin, which resulted in a release of water following removal of the products. The release was related to the reduction of water loss. Thus petrolatum gave a higher release of water than the other emollients.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Aug 1992
Can alopecia areata be triggered by emotional stress? An uncontrolled evaluation of 178 patients with extensive hair loss.
One hundred and seventy-eight patients with severe alopecia areata were asked at interview whether they attributed their first attack of hair loss to an emotional trauma. Twelve patients (6.7%) reported a severely disturbing event during the 6 months preceding the first symptoms of their disease. ⋯ Emotional triggers were not especially correlated with any particular type of alopecia areata. The present study does not therefore provide evidence of a significant role of emotional stress in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Aug 1992
The analgesic effect of EMLA cream on facial skin. Quantitative evaluation using argon laser stimulation.
The hypoalgesic effect of EMLA cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics) applied for 5, 15, and 30 min on facial skin was evaluated. Hypoalgesia was assessed by changes in pain thresholds to brief argon laser stimuli 0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 min after removal of EMLA cream. The local cutaneous vascular changes induced by EMLA cream was evaluated by Erythema Index determined by reflectance spectroscopy and by laser Doppler blood flowmetry. ⋯ This great variability should be considered when EMLA cream is used for facial application in the clinic. Differences in local blood flow probably contribute to the variability. Application of EMLA cream for 5 and 15 min did not change erythema of the skin, while 30 min of application caused minor blanching.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 1990
Argon laser induced cutaneous sensory and pain thresholds in post-herpetic neuralgia. Quantitative modulation by topical capsaicin.
Sensory and pain thresholds to cutaneous argon laser stimulation were determined in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia before and during treatment with topical capsaicin. Before treatment both thresholds were significantly elevated on the affected side compared to the contralateral normal area. After one week of capsaicin treatment both thresholds were significantly increased compared to the pre-treatment values, and the subjective pain relief, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) was 24%. ⋯ Laser stimulations at levels at which the sensory and pain thresholds are reached were initially described as burning or stinging with pain projecting outside the stimulated area. This allodynia to laser stimulations changed during capsaicin treatment towards normal sensory and pain perception qualities. Both sensory and pain thresholds and the subjective pain score evaluated on a visual analogue scale were attenuated during the capsaicin treatment, suggesting a significant role of the cutaneous sensory and pain receptors in postherpetic neuralgia.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 1990
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPain control in the surgical debridement of leg ulcers by the use of a topical lidocaine--prilocaine cream, EMLA.
The analgesic effect of EMLA 5% cream for surgical cleansing of leg ulcers was investigated in an open study and in a double-blind comparison with placebo. Eighty patients with ulcers of venous or arterial origin participated. The cream was applied under occlusion and removed before cleansing. ⋯ The median VAS pain scores for EMLA and placebo were 18.5 and 84 mm (p less than 0.01). There were no severe adverse reactions. The results show that there is a need for pain control in surgical debridement of leg ulcers and that EMLA cream gives satisfactory analgesia for this procedure.