Bobbi Edwards, M.D. | Nicole Rataj Casady, PA-C
COLD SORE TREATMENT FROM THE HONEY BEE
Cold sores are a common skin infection that are caused by exposure to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1). The condition is typically acquired in childhood and can cause reoccurring crusted lesions on the skin over the course of one’s life. Treatment with antiviral medication is an effective management strategy for many patients with cold sores, but recent viral mutations are leading to issues with resistance to the traditional antiviral therapies. Furthermore, antiviral medications can cause side effects for some patients and also have potential drug interactions in individuals taking other medications.
A new study examined the antiviral activity of honey and royal jelly against HSV-1. Honey is produced from flower nectar and contains a high concentration of sugar. Honey is known to exert antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses and is commonly used to help with wound healing. Royal jelly is a foodstuff that is also produced by honeybees to help with larvae nutrition and maturation of the hive’s queen. Royal jelly has also demonstrated to have antimicrobial properties and to help with wound healing. The researchers aimed to compare the effectiveness of honey and royal jelly against acyclovir, an antiviral medication commonly used in the treatment of HSV-1.
The labs cultured cells infected with HSV-1 and exposed the infected cells to honey, royal jelly, acyclovir, and a control. Antiviral activity was measured in each treatment group. The researchers discovered that honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir were all effective in reducing viral activity within the infected cells. The cells treated with honey and with acyclovir had the most significant response. The authors concluded that honey and royal jelly can be considered as safe, low-cost treatment alternatives for cold sores.
[Adapted from Hashemipour MA, et al. Antiviral activities of honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir against HSV-1. Wounds. 2014; 26(2): 47-54.]
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NIKKI’S ACNE CORNER – The Emotional Impact of Adult Female Acne
Acne is often considered a skin condition of adolescence, but approximately 12-22% of adult females in the United States suffer from acne. A recent survey of adult women suffering from acne analyzed the psychosocial impact of the disease. More than 75% of the women reported that their acne made them feel less confident, more self-conscious, frustrated, and embarrassed. Quality of life scores in these patients were also low, with subjects indicating that acne negatively impacted their self-perception as well as their emotional and social functioning. In fact, 12% of the women admitted that they had missed going to work or school within the last four weeks due to their acne. Almost half of the women indicated that their acne prevented them from being able to concentrate at work or school.
If you have acne, please know that treatment is available to help reduce the severity and frequency of your breakouts. We are happy to help create a regimen tailored to your personal skin care needs.
[Tanghetti E, et al. Understanding the burden of adult female acne. Journal of Clinical & Aesthetic Dermatology. 2014; 7(2): 22-30.]
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UNDERSTAND THE RHYTHM OF YOUR SKIN
The human circadian clock enables our bodies to function at the optimal time of day. A review article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology looked specifically at the circadian clock of human skin. The authors examined how skin cell function changes throughout the day and how drug delivery to the skin can be optimized by adjusting the time of day it is applied.
Upon review of the literature, the authors of this study noted that:
- Cell growth and repair occur in the evening; active skin cell division occurs in the late night and early morning hours.
- Skin loses water at a faster rate overnight that it does during the day.
- The skin’s protective barrier is stronger during the day than it is at night.
- Blood flow to the skin is lowest in the morning and peaks twice later in the day (one peak in the afternoon and another in the late evening).
- Forehead skin oil production and secretion is highest in the afternoon and lowest overnight.
This information may be used in the treatment of many common skin complaints. As the skin tends to lose moisture during sleep, it may be beneficial for eczema patients to apply their moisturizers at night. Psoriasis patients using Vitamin D creams (which inhibit the overproduction of skin cells) may notice better results with application of their medicine in the evening, given that skin cell growth tends to be higher during this time of day. Topical retinoids, which are used to treat acne and wrinkles, might be more effective if applied before bedtime as the skin’s barrier is easier to penetrate at night. Excess oil production during the day may dilute the concentration of topical antibiotics within skin pores, making the certain topical acne medications less effective if applied in the afternoon. Topical wrinkle and anti-aging creams that act to stimulate collagen production may perform better when applied in the evening since skin cells divide and grow more rapidly at night.
Furthermore, when the circadian clock is disrupted, hormone secretion in the body (specifically melatonin and cortisol) is also disrupted and can affect skin function. Melatonin levels increase overnight and are suppressed when exposed to visible light. Melatonin is known to exert antioxidant and anti-aging properties on the skin. Individuals who work night-shift may experience more visible signs of aging if their melatonin levels are suppressed. Cortisol levels are naturally highest in the morning, and levels gradually decline throughout the day. Stress and lack of sleep can increase cortisol secretion in the body. Excess cortisol is associated with acne flaring.
Interestingly, the authors also note that human skin has a lower rate of ultraviolet light-induced cancer formation in the morning. The authors suggest that people could reduce their risk of developing skin cancer by restricting their sun exposure to morning hours only.
[Adapted from Luber A, et al. Therapeutic implications of the circadian clock on skin function. J Drugs Dermatology. 2014; 13(2): 130-134.]
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