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The antimicrobial treatment of wounds is still a major problem. Tissue-tolerable electrical plasma (TTP) is a new approach for topical microbial disinfection of the skin surface. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of TTP on a carotenoid profile in relation to skin physiology parameters (epidermal barrier function, stratum corneum (SC) hydration, surface temperature and irritation parameters). We were interested in the interaction of TTP and the antioxidative network, as well as the consequences for skin physiology parameters. These parameters are also indicative of TTP safety in vivo. For plasma application, 'Kinpen 09' was used (surface exposure 30-43°C) for 3 s. Beta-carotene and water profiles were assessed by in vivo Raman microspectroscopy (skin composition analyzer 3510). Skin physiology parameters were measured with Tewameter TM 300, Corneometer CM 825, skin thermometer and Chromameter CR 300. All parameters were assessed non-invasively on seven healthy volunteers before and after plasma application in vivo. We could show that TTP application leads to a decrease in beta-carotene especially in the superficial SC. Skin-surface temperature increased by 1.74°C, while the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increase indicated an impaired barrier function. SC hydration decreased as seen in water profile especially in the superficial layers and capacitance values. A slight increase in skin redness was measurable. The induction of reactive oxygen species is probably the major contributor of TTP efficacy in skin disinfection. Skin physiology parameters were influenced without damaging the skin or skin functions, indicating the safety of TTP under in vivo conditions.

Most treatments in dermatology and cosmetology are based on the penetration of topically applied drugs into the skin or through the skin barrier to the target structure in the living tissue. In the case of healthy skin, scarcely 1% of the applied drugs pass the skin barrier, depending on their chemical properties. Therefore, different physical and chemical methods have been developed to stimulate the penetration process. All these methods are based on the partial destruction of the barrier. In this study, an electrical tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP) was used to increase the penetration of a topically applied model drug (fluorescent dye) through the skin barrier. Using laser scanning microscopy, the distribution of the model drug in different depths of the skin was investigated. It was found that the plasma treatment of the skin is a very efficient process to deliver topically applied substances into the living tissue. In the case of the non-plasma-treated skin, it was found that the fluorescent dye could be detected exclusively on the skin surface. If the dye was applied to the TTP-treated skin, it could be observed in high concentration also in deeper parts of the skin extending down to the stratum basale and the papillary structure.

The antimicrobial treatment of wounds is still a major problem. Tissue-tolerable electrical plasma (TTP) is a new approach for topical microbial disinfection of the skin surface. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of TTP on a carotenoid profile in relation to skin physiology parameters (epidermal barrier function, stratum corneum (SC) hydration, surface temperature and irritation parameters). We were interested in the interaction of TTP and the antioxidative network, as well as the consequences for skin physiology parameters. These parameters are also indicative of TTP safety in vivo. For plasma application, 'Kinpen 09' was used (surface exposure 30-43°C) for 3 s. Beta-carotene and water profiles were assessed by in vivo Raman microspectroscopy (skin composition analyzer 3510). Skin physiology parameters were measured with Tewameter TM 300, Corneometer CM 825, skin thermometer and Chromameter CR 300. All parameters were assessed non-invasively on seven healthy volunteers before and after plasma application in vivo. We could show that TTP application leads to a decrease in beta-carotene especially in the superficial SC. Skin-surface temperature increased by 1.74°C, while the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increase indicated an impaired barrier function. SC hydration decreased as seen in water profile especially in the superficial layers and capacitance values. A slight increase in skin redness was measurable. The induction of reactive oxygen species is probably the major contributor of TTP efficacy in skin disinfection. Skin physiology parameters were influenced without damaging the skin or skin functions, indicating the safety of TTP under in vivo conditions.

Most treatments in dermatology and cosmetology are based on the penetration of topically applied drugs into the skin or through the skin barrier to the target structure in the living tissue. In the case of healthy skin, scarcely 1% of the applied drugs pass the skin barrier, depending on their chemical properties. Therefore, different physical and chemical methods have been developed to stimulate the penetration process. All these methods are based on the partial destruction of the barrier. In this study, an electrical tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP) was used to increase the penetration of a topically applied model drug (fluorescent dye) through the skin barrier. Using laser scanning microscopy, the distribution of the model drug in different depths of the skin was investigated. It was found that the plasma treatment of the skin is a very efficient process to deliver topically applied substances into the living tissue. In the case of the non-plasma-treated skin, it was found that the fluorescent dye could be detected exclusively on the skin surface. If the dye was applied to the TTP-treated skin, it could be observed in high concentration also in deeper parts of the skin extending down to the stratum basale and the papillary structure.

Background: The cutaneous antioxidants form an efficient protection system against the destructive potential of free radicals, produced by environmental factors, such as UV-sun irradiation, hazardous substances and lifestyle habits. Most of the antioxidants cannot be produced by the human organism. Thus, they have to be incorporated by food and beverages. Material and Methods: In the present manuscript, the distribution of carotenoids as a marker for antioxidative potential in human skin was investigated with two different in vivo Raman spectroscopy methods with an excitation wavelength of 785 nm (Skin Analyzer) and at 488 nm (resonance Raman spectroscopy). The carotenoid profile was assessed at three different anatomical locations (palm, forehead and volar forearm) in 12 healthy volunteers. Results: In untreated skin, the major fraction of the carotenoids is located in the upper part of the stratum corneum (SC). The amount of carotenoid is lower in the upper part of the SC on the forearm compared to forehead and palm shown with both methods. Both methods detect similar distinction patterns of carotenoid levels for the three anatomical locations. Conclusion: The present study supports the hypothesis that antioxidative substances; here carotenoids, are secreted via eccrine sweat glands and/or sebaceous glands to the skin surface. Raman spectroscopic methods are an efficient tool to analyze the distribution of carotenoids in the human skin over time and with the Skin Analyzer over different layers of the epidermis. Resonance Raman spectroscopy is suited to analyze deeper parts of the skin.

Hair follicles represent reservoirs for localized drug therapy and transport pathways for systemic drug delivery. This study describes an approach towards developing a novel procedure for quantifying topically applied substances located in the hair follicles of porcine ear skin, a model for human in vivo skin, using a fluorescent dye. Approximately 5% of the topically applied dye was recovered from the hair follicles, which is in accordance with a previous study.