Both physicians and dermatology patients are searching for long-term topical skin care solutions (both cosmetic and cosmeceutical) to address problems presented by skin hyperpigmentation. Specifically, some women often express a desire to "lighten" skin tone by achieving improved visible tone, reduction in yellowness (or sallow tone), and reduction in the appearance of hyperpigmented spots ("age" or "sun" spots). Traditional depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and kojic acid, although highly effective, can raise several safety concerns (for example, ochronosis, atrophy, carcinogenesis, and other local or systemic side effects) with long-term exposure. An understanding of the benefits of natural and botanical extracts provides opportunities to develop new products to address pigmentation problems. Active compounds isolated from plants, such as arbutin, aloesin, gentisic acid, flavonoids, hesperidin, licorice, niacinamide, yeast derivatives, and polyphenols, inhibit melanogenesis without melanocytotoxicity by different mechanisms. This review presents an overview of trends in the application of plant extracts as topical treatments for hyperpigmentation disorders. It highlights some of the most relevant natural extracts, providing in vitro screening results and relevant available clinical study trial findings supporting their efficacy.

Granulomatous reactions at sites of previous cutaneous herpes zoster lesions occur, but their etiology is not known. Three tissue specimens from 5 cases identified clinically and histologically as post-zosteric granulomatous reactions were studied for the presence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by the polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for VZV. VZV DNA was detected in 1 of 3 cases where the granulomatous reaction occurred immediately in the wake of resolving vesicular herpes zoster lesions. Finding viral DNA in earlier reactions probably represents residue from the active herpetic process. VZV DNA was not identified in granulomatous reactions arising between 1 month and up to 4 years after resolved herpes zoster. The negative result in these cases supports the hypothesis that there is no association between persistence of VZV DNA and granuloma formation. How long VZV DNA is detectable at sites of resolved herpes zoster lesions could be the subject of further studies.

The anti-corrosion and robust superhydrophobic stainless surface is obtained by nanosecond laser direct writing.

Papilloma of the external auditory canal is produced by infection with HPV 6.