When it’s cold outside the humidity often decreases leading to dry environments that can result in skin inflammation and pruritus. In fact, dry environments promote pro-inflammatory cytokine release from corneocytes (found in the outermost layer of the epidermis or stratum corneum) and low humidity also causes mast cell enlargement as well as mast cell degranulation (release of inflammatory mediators like histamine).  In addition, desquamation (skin shedding) is decreased, which can lead to scaling that is common with winter xerosis (dry skin). A dry environment affects the skin barrier making the skin more sensitive and prone to inflammation. Viniferamine® skin and...

Handwashing is important because it helps eliminate germs that can cause disease.  In fact, good hand hygiene has been linked to a decrease in infectious disease incidence.  Unfortunately, it’s too easy to forget the vital importance of handwashing due to the fact that antibiotics and vaccines have contributed so significantly to declining infectious disease-associated mortality over the past 100 years.   However, this trend should not be taken for granted, since mortality in the U.S. from infectious diseases actually rose between 1980 and 1992 due to an unexpected increase in emerging infectious diseases such as antibiotic resistant tuberculosis. Over the last...

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with chronic inflammation that can lead to various health complications including foot ulcers.  The most common form, type 2 diabetes, involves insulin resistance and decreased insulin production.  Increased blood glucose or hyperglycemia is also common in diabetics.  In addition, at least 30% of individuals with diabetes have some form of skin problem.  Skin dryness, itching (pruritus), skin infection, and impaired wound healing are some of the common problems that can be associated with diabetes. Dry skin is due to the fact that individuals with diabetes tend to have reduced skin hydration resulting from...

Skin provides a fairly inhospitable environment for most microbes due to its amazing ability to remain cool, dry and slightly acidic.  In addition to producing sweat, the skin frequently sheds cells and secretes oils and defensive peptides to protect against invading microbes.  However, skin isn’t completely hostile to microbes because it also welcomes a rich and complex flora of interacting microbes that live in harmony with the skin and actually protect it from dangerous pathogens. Viniferamine® skin and wound care products were designed to preserve the balance of the skin’s normal chemistry and flora and enhance protection against invading microbes...

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for skin as well as the rest of the body.  It’s absolutely necessary for normal skin and bodily functions, cannot be naturally synthesized in humans and must be provided externally. Skin itself has various critical roles in overall health including protection from dehydration and infection, and its appearance is an important reflection on general well-being. The epidermal layer of skin is responsible for most of its barrier function and includes many cells, particularly keratinocytes. In contrast, the lower dermal layer is composed mainly of fibroblasts that secrete the major component of the dermis, collagen...

Radiation dermatitis is an acute skin reaction to radiation therapy that ranges from a mild rash to skin ulceration.  Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy.  Although many technological advances have resulted in improved treatment protocols, skin damage is still a common side effect of radiation therapy.  Radiation dermatitis, induced by ionizing radiation, affects a large proportion (up to 95%) of patients receiving this type of cancer therapy. The severity of radiation dermatitis is dependent upon treatment factors including the total radiation dose, the schedule of dosing, the type and quality of beam utilized, and the volume and...

Taking optimal care of skin is vital for overall health and wellbeing. In fact, keeping skin intact and healthy is critical for maintaining homeostasis including proper body temperature and hydration. Skin also provides a barrier to pathogens and chemicals that could cause systemic disease and/or damage. When skin is exposed to irritants, it often becomes inflamed and itchy, and it’s difficult not to scratch.  Unfortunately, scratching can result in wounds. Various factors are important for a well functioning skin barrier including proper skin pH, balanced lipids and healthy microbial flora (microbiome). Factors that can disturb barrier function include stress (including...

The average age of our population is still rising.  Because individuals are living longer, the need for optimal care of aging skin is increasingly recognized.  Aging results in visible consequences that become obvious with time including wrinkling and sagging skin.  Aging skin is generally more fragile and can also be associated with undesirable skin issues including fragile skin bruising (senile purpura), skin tears, xerosis (abnormally dry skin), and pruritus (itching) that can have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life.  In addition, vascular changes in the skin, such as thinning capillaries and slowing microcirculation is evident in aging...

Scars are areas of dermal fibrosis that replace normal tissue after injury and during wound healing. There are several types of dermal scars including: 1. Atrophic scars that appear as sunken or pitted areas of skin 2. Hypertrophic scars that are characterized by raised areas of skin 3. Keloid scars characterized by growth outside the original wound area 4. Striae distensae (stretch marks) characterized by linear bands of atrophic-appearing skin. Wound healing involves 4 critical phases that overlap: the coagulation phase, the inflammatory phase, the migration-proliferation phase (development of granulation tissue), and the remodeling-regeneration phase that includes maturation, scar formation...

Air pollution is becoming an increasing health problem worldwide. It’s an environmental threat to which millions of people are exposed, and is currently the world’s largest single environmental health risk.  It’s well known that air pollution is bad for lungs, but scientist are just beginning to discover how damaging air pollution is to the skin.  Viniferamine® skin and wound care products were designed to protect skin from irritants, and help restore skin cells naturally back to health.  Not only is outdoor air pollution a risk to skin health, but indoor air pollution can also be harmful.  Indoor risks include exposure...