Allergy-Associates

Dermatoporosis is a newly minted word to describe the age-related decline of our largest organ: our skin. We have similar terms for other organs: congestive heart failure, COPD, macular degeneration and osteoporosis.  

The value of a new term is that it directs patient/physician attention to the problem and ways to improve it. Other than advancing age, other risk factors include solar damage, topical or systemic steroids, renal disease, COPD, anticoagulant use and lack of exercise. A common (physiologic) denominator to all these risk factors is loss of extra cellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is the vital scaffolding that supports and nourishes our skin cells and is comprised of an interwoven network of collagen and elastin fibers. The principal constituent of ECM is hyaluronic acid, which is produced by a cellular organelle, the hyaluronosome. A depleted ECM leads to skin thinning and skin fragility which in turn lead to the purpura (flat bruises) and skin tears that occur.  

Dermatoporosis can be prevented or improved by some simple measures. Using sunscreen or solar clothing reduce UV damage. Topical retinoids help thicken the skin and improve resilience Emollients with alpha-hydroxy acid also increase skin thickness. In women topical DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is of significant value. Finally, ensuring adequate dietary protein intake helps. 

The novel technology that allowed the development of the covid vaccines is now finding new applications. 

Messenger RNA (mRNA) works in concert with DNA in almost all living organisms. With its single strand it carries genetic information from double stranded DNA to the ribosomes where new proteins are synthesized with the information coded in the RNA. This mechanism has been co-opted to produce vaccines. In the case of COVID vaccines, a small amount of the spike in protein from the corona virus in templated on the RNA which then instructs the ribosomes to produce this protein. Since it is a foreign protein, the immune system recognized it foreign nature and automatically makes antibodies to destroy it. Thus, providing vaccine protection.  

Now research is using this template to create a vaccine for metastatic pancreatic cancer. Researchers at Sloan Kettering use individual patient cancer cell and use the mutant cancer protein to generate mRNA sequences for these “red flags” which alerts the immune system to destroy them. Similar technologies are being used in metastatic melanoma and colon cancer. 

• UVA (wavelength 320-400 nm) accounts for 95% of terrestrial radiation 

• UVB (wavelength 290 – 320 nm) accounts for the other 5% 

• Both cause photoaging, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer 

• UVB causes sun burn 

• UVB is strongest midday and in the warm months 

• UVA is relatively constant day round and year-round. 

• UVA is not filtered out by glass, but UVB is 

• SPF (sun protection factor) is the ratio of the amount of UV light required to cause sunburn on sunscreen protected skin to the amount required on unprotected skin 

• SPF protection is based on a 2mg/cm² thickness of application. Most consumers only apply .5 mg/cm² (a thinner layer) and therefore don’t receive the desired protection 

• Blocking agents are either organic (octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, ecamsule, ensulfizole) or inorganic (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide)  

• Octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate, and ensulfizole only block UVB 

• Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide block both UVA and UVB but zine offers better UVA protection 

• All organic sunscreens can cause allergic contact allergy especially oxybenzone 

• Organic sunscreens are absorbed systemically, and animal studies raise estrogen and lower testosterone levels 

• Oxybenzone has been shown to impact kidney function 

• Oxybenzone and octinoxate are detrimental to sea corals 

• UPF is ultraviolet protection fact of solar clothing 

• A UPF of 30-49 provides very good protection and a UPF of 50+ excellent protection