P133MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN DERMATOLOGYKaran K. Sra, MD, Center for Clinical Studies, Houston, TX, United States, Katie R. Pang,MD, Center for Clinical Studies, Houston, TX, United States, Jashin J. Wu, MD, Center forClinical Studies, Houston, TX, United States, Stephen K. Tyring, MD, PhD, MBA, Centerfor Clinical Studies, Houston, TX, United States

The molecular diagnosis of infectious disease has been growing considerably over thepast decade. Nucleic acid amplification techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction(PCR), ligase chain reaction (LCR), transcription-medicated amplification (TMA), andnucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), provide highly accurate diagnosis ofnumerous bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections involved in a variety of derma-tological disease. In addition, signal amplification with hybrid capture, branched-DNAassays, and in-situ hybridization have been used for the detection of numerous viralpathogens with high sensitivity and specificity. New technology using DNA and proteinmicroassays have also enabled the detection of a variety of genes and gene mutations.With time, these diagnostic assays are decreasing in cost, gaining FDA approval, andbecoming easier and more efficient to use. In the future, these assays will be able todeliver rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases within a single clinic visit.

Disclosure not available at press time.

P134MAKING SENSITIVE SKIN LESS SENSITIVETracy L Grosick, BS, Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States, VictoriaHollis, BSc, Procter & Gamble Company, Egham, Surrey, England

The epidermal skin barrier is responsible for regulating the overall health of the skin. Skinsensitivity and susceptibility to exogenous insult can result from a deficient stratumcorneum barrier function. As will be described, maintenance of barrier function plays acritical role in mitigating the most prevalent sensitive skin symptoms.

A significant subset of the population associates with having sensitive skin and complainof hyperirritability. The condition of sensitive skin is broadly defined, relating to a varietyof external stimuli, and is manifested as a range of clinical symptoms. Most notably,individuals experience transient and recurring skin dryness and redness without satisfac-tory resolve.

Hence, many sensitive skin sufferers attempt to relieve symptoms by seeking moisturizersformulated without allergens or known irritants (e.g. fragrance, dyes, harsh surfactants).Many of these moisturizers act through acute stratum corneum hydration, alleviating dryskin and improving skin properties such as softness and suppleness. While these productscertainly elicit no harm to the patient, their primary mechanism of effect is acute,resulting in a temporary effect.

There is a growing body of literature and data suggesting moisturizers with niacinamideplay a more proactive, chronic role in skin repair by maintaining normal barrier function.Thus, moisturizers with niacinamide not only provide basic moisturization and dry skinrelief, they also improve barrier properties that help defend against factors contributingto sensitive skin symptoms.

Disclosure not available at press time.

100 percent sponsored by Procter & Gamble.

P135SUNSCREEN MARKET ANALYSIS: THE EVOLUTION AND USE OF UVA-1 ACTIVESJ F Nash, PhD, Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States, Paul Tanner,BS, Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States, Tracy Grosick, BS, Procter& Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States, Mary Zimnawoda, Procter & GambleCompany, Cincinnati, OH, United States

Protection from solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation remains a top priority of the dermatolog-ical community. Daily application of sunscreen products is recommended by health careprofessionals as part of a strategy to reduce skin damage from exposure to solar light.However, such routine use of sunscreens by patients and consumers varies and dependson many factors including skin type, beliefs regarding skin care, habits and practices, andknowledge about exposure to the sun and long term effects on skin.

These inconsistencies in awareness, attitude and practice suggest that consumers do notnecessarily follow the same linear logic that sunscreen manufacturers use to develop andpromote such products. Despite this apparent difference, consumers have benefited fromthe considerable growth and variety of sunscreen products. Moreover, key regulatorydecisions such as the approval of avobenzone and zinc oxide, alone and in combinationwith other UV filters, have played a very important role in providing consumers muchneeded protection against long wavelength (i.e. UVA-1 or 340-400 nm) solar UV.

While the progression of the UV protection marketed is noteworthy, our previous workin 1997 found that sunscreen products differ radically in claims and expression ofefficacy, particularly UVA protection. Thus, we conducted an extensive examination ofthe US sunscreen market evaluating efficacy and performance claims. A total of 188currently marketed US sunscreen products, including mass and department store prod-ucts, recreational and daily sunscreens, and a variety of forms (lotions, creams, oils andsprays) were analyzed for label claims (SPF, UVA, photoaging), active ingredients (i.e. UVfilters), and efficacy (SPF and UVA).

This poster will review the key findings of our survey that reveal the common use of ninesunscreen actives and the large increase in long wave UVA (UVA-1) ingredients. Incontrast, we will also present the significant need for UVA method/claims guidelines asmany products currently claim UVA efficacy, yet do not contain UVA-1 filters. Based onour evaluation, there remains a clear and urgent need for a reproducible test to measureUVA efficacy and a consumer understandable means of communicating this information.

Disclosure not available at press time.

100 percent sponsored by Procter & Gamble Company

P136METHODS OF ASSESSING DESQUAMATION AND SCALINESS IN HUMAN SKINUSING BIOENGINEERING TECHNIQUESIqbal Sadiq, MS, S.K.I.N. Incorporated, Conshohocken, PA, United States, Tracy Stoude-mayer, BS, S.K.I.N. Incorporated, Conshohocken, PA, United States, Albert Kligman, MD,PhD, S.K.I.N. Incorporated, Conshohocken, PA, United States

Dry, irritated skin show increased scaliness as well as higher desquamation rates, asevidenced by the collection of scales on the adhesive disc. After moisturizing treatments,improvement can be evidenced. We have used a variety of bioengineering methods torecord and follow changes in scaliness and desquamation. A number of imaging modal-ities were used along with image analysis routines. Repeated sampling, on a specific site,by the adhesive discs (serial stripping) was helpful in showing the dynamics of desqua-mation. We chose a method of collecting three sequential samples of scales from the samespot, and then imaging and analyzing these samples. The slope of these curves were usedto assess the integrity of stratum corneum (SC). This method showed us improvements inskin after moisturizer use. The distribution of scales on skin surface was imaged byvideomicroscopy. The sites were illuminated from a narrow angle with either a visiblelight or ultraviolet-blue light. We also used a fluorescent stain, 2% aqueous pyranin, tovisualize the distribution of scales on the skin. Confocal microscopy and optical coher-ence tomography were used to image stratum corneum. By using several bioengineeringtechniques we get a fuller picture of the state of SC integrity. Changes in skin caused bytopically applied products can be understood better.

Disclosure not available at press time.

P34 J AM ACAD DERMATOL MARCH 2004