skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Improvement of skin care during radiotherapy.

Schratter-Sehn AU, Brinda K, Kahrer M, Novak M.

Institut fur Radioonkologie, Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital, Wien. annemarie.schratter kfj.magwien.gv.at

BACKGROUND: State-of-the-art radiotherapy, new insights into pharmacology and novel operating techniques require patient-oriented adaptation of care. PATIENTS AND METHOD: At the Radio-oncology Department of the Kaiser Franz Josef Spital, Vienna, a new skin care concept for patients undergoing radiotherapy was introduced in March 1999. This concept has subsequently been applied in all cases regardless of the diagnosis prompting referral (79 ENT, 305 breast, 134 prostate, 89 colorectal cancer and 751 other patients). Radiotherapy consisted of photon and/or electron radiation on the linear accelerator. The energy ranges were between 6 and 15 MV for photon therapy and between 6 and 12 MeV for electron radiation. Patients received an average total radiation dose of 50-66 Gy at single fractional doses of 1.8-2 Gy 5 times a week. Powdering of the skin was replaced by a moist skin care program. Patients were allowed to take cool whole-body showers without soap, including the irradiated skin areas, 3 times a week. RESULTS: With the new skin care program dryness of the skin and resultant allergic skin reactions became less common. Broken skin an epitheliolysis were clearly reduced and superinfections were prevented. CONCLUSION: Moist care of irradiated skin areas during radiotherapy thus improved radiation tolerance and patient acceptance. Copyright 2001 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11441280&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Should this team be saved?

Heimbouch H.

As far as anyone could tell, Vigor Skin Care's star was rising, mostly on the strength of Ageless Vigor, its new line of enriched skin cleansers and cosmetics. In fact, this evening, the three employees responsible for developing the product line were slated to receive the parent company's highest award for performance. But CEO Peter Markles knew that despite the accolades, the business unit--and its "fearsome threesome"--had hit a rough patch in recent months. When Peter took the reins four years ago, Vigor Skin Care was the sleeping dog of the health-and-beauty industry; his challenge was to rejuvenate the maturing business. He knew a turnaround would require equal parts discipline, politics, and creativity--so he pulled together a team that could address those needs. Peter relied on Sandy Fryda, Vigor's longtime marketing director, to help him navigate the tricky political waters at headquarters. And he tapped 30-year-old Josh Bartola, a maverick contributor to Vigor Skin Care's research group, for his independent spirit and new product ideas. Their all-consuming, intensely collaborative efforts resulted in the successful Ageless Vigor line. Then reality set in. The team found the day-to-day operations of manufacturing Ageless Vigor, for all their necessity and urgency, a bit tedious. Peter felt relegated to troubleshooting distribution problems. Josh was having meetings with executives from another division who were actively recruiting the wunderkind. And Sandy was simply on the verge of burnout. Tonight, at the award ceremony, there would be speeches and applause and toasts. But tomorrow, Peter would have to face the question: Should he try to salvage the Ageless Vigor team? Four commentators offer their advice in this fictional case study.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11447615&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Skin care in burn patients: a team approach.

Ho WS, Chan HH, Ying SY, Cheng HS, Wong CS.

Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. hows cuhk.edu.hk

Skin care is an important but often neglected issue in burn management. Newly healed burn skin is fragile, itchy, dry, and susceptible to sunburn. Without proper skin care in burn patients, they may suffer from sleep and mood disturbances, depression, and poor compliance to treatment that can jeopardize the rehabilitation process. At the Prince of Wales Hospital, skin care has been managed since February 1996 by a team consisting of plastic surgeon, dermatologist, occupational therapist and nursing specialist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a skin care program run by a Skin Care Team on the rehabilitation of burn patients in a tertiary burn centre. The role of different members of the team was also discussed.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11451603&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Protective gloves in Swedish dentistry: use and side-effects.

Wrangsjo K, Wallenhammar LM, Ortengren U, Barregard L, Andreasson H, Bjorkner B, Karlsson S, Meding B.

Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Norrbacka, Karolinska Sjukhuset, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: During the 1980s routine wearing of gloves in dentistry was recommended by health authorities in several countries. However, prolonged glove use is associated with side-effects of irritant and allergic origin. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the extent of glove use and self-reported glove intolerance reactions among Swedish dentists, and to examine how far IgE-mediated allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) occurs in subjects who report rapid itching when in contact with protective gloves. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A postal questionnaire was answered by 3083 of 3500 licensed dentists, a response rate of 88%. Of the dentists who reported rapidly occurring itching of the hands from gloves, 131 of 170 attended a clinical examination including a skin prick test (SPT) and a serological examination (RAST) for IgE-mediated allergy. RESULTS: Seventy-three per cent of the dentists reported daily glove use of more than 2 h, 48% more than 6 h a day, and 6% reported no use. NRL gloves were used most frequently (P < 0.001) and were the main material that elicited symptoms (P < 0.001). Female dentists reported more frequent glove use than males, as did young dentists (P < 0.001) compared with older ones. Females also preferred vinyl gloves. Glove intolerance reactions were reported by 723 (23%) dentists, [females 28%, males 21% (P < 0.001)] and were more common in younger dentists. Of the 417 dentists with reported hand eczema during the previous year, 54% reported glove intolerance, compared with 20% of the dentists without hand eczema (P < 0.001). A logistic regression analysis including hand eczema, age, sex and atopy showed that all these factors contributed significantly to the risk of glove intolerance, and that hand eczema was a stronger factor than atopy. In 15 of 131 (11%) dentists examined for reported glove-related itch, latex allergy was verified by SPT and/or RAST. Glove-related conjunctivitis, rhinitis and asthma, in contrast to skin symptoms, showed a significant association with IgE-mediated allergy to NRL. CONCLUSIONS: Swedish dentists show good compliance with the recommendations for routine glove use. Intolerance reactions are frequently reported, especially by dentists with hand eczema, which emphasizes the need for preventive skin care programmes. Glove-related symptoms from mucous membranes showed a higher association with IgE-mediated allergy to NRL than reported itching of the skin, a fact that should be considered when composing screening questionnaires for NRL sensitization

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11453904&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Skin care in my practice: the "spectrum concept".

Brennan HG.

The spectrum system of skin rejuvenation has proven to be a universal method adaptable to virtually every skin type without exception. It is a simple, logical approach that is easily understood by the patient, the staff, and the physician. It is remarkably inexpensive, user friendly, and achieves consistently successful results. It is an invaluable key to the comprehensive treatment of not only the rejuvenative patient, but it is beneficial to patients of all age groups and results in a beneficial long-term doctor-patient relationship and continued patient satisfaction.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11457702&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-3.matches: skin care
Dermatology in primary care: Prevalence and patient disposition.

Lowell BA, Froelich CW, Federman DG, Kirsner RS.

Departments of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL, USA.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous disease is commonly encountered in primary care. The frequency of patients presenting to primary care physicians with skin disease and their eventual disposition is not well studied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of patients seen with skin disease in a primary care setting and the likelihood of their referral to a dermatologist. The impact the primary care provider had on the quality of skin care was also examined. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients seen during a 2-year period at a general medicine clinic within the University of Miami and upon referral to a University of Miami dermatology office. Data were obtained on the prevalence of skin disease, dispositions of referral, diagnoses made, and procedures performed. RESULTS: During a 2-year period, 36.5% of patients who presented to their primary care physician had at least one skin problem. Of 208 patients with skin disease, in 58.7% (122/208) it was their chief complaint. A wide range of diagnoses were made by the primary care physician, with a limited number of diagnostic procedures performed. Of the 37.5% of patients referred to a dermatologist, 68% were referred on initial evaluation. Diagnoses made by the primary care physician were concordant with that made by the dermatologists 57% of the time. CONCLUSION: Patients frequently see their primary care physician for skin disease. A large percentage are referred to dermatologists, often for a biopsy of a suspect lesion, to confirm a suspected diagnosis, or to establish a diagnosis of lesions of unknown origin.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11464187&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine skin-care-1.matches: skin care
[Lymphedema--treatment]

[Article in German]

Strossenreuther RH, Dax I, Emde C.

Fachbereichsleitung Lymphangiologie, Krankenhaus Freising.

Treatment of lymphedema utilizes complex physical (or decongestive) therapy (CDT), so-called. This covers a number of measures including compression, lymph drainage, skin care and individualized exercises. CDT is divided into two phases--an intensive phase during which daily treatment is applied over a period of two to four weeks, and a maintenance phase in which especially compression therapy is continued in order to secure the positive effects achieved during the first phase. Treatment should be initiated in an early stage of the condition, and the aim is to return the patient to the symptom-free latency stage. Neither isolated manual lymph drainage nor equipment-based decongestion is considered for the treatment of lymphedema. To date, the efficacy of various drugs, including selenium, has not been confirmed.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15035445&dopt=Abstract skin, skin care, skin care medicine