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| >> Media Section BJD study reveals link between scalp disease and hairstyles, 24.08.07 Wrist monitor reveals blood chemicals linked to itching in eczema, 24.08.07 BJD publishes shocking new sunbed study, 20.07.07 Lack of sun protection in schools, 10.07.07 BJD study reveals link between scalp disease and hairstyles Hairstyling practises may be triggering certain scalp diseases in African children and adults, two new studies in the British Journal of Dermatology will reveal. Anecdotal reports suggest that certain scalp and hair diseases are more common in people of African descent. To further understand the reasons for this, researchers based in Cape Town conducted two separate studies, one of 1042 school children and the other of 874 adults, with the results focusing on specific skin conditions. Of almost 2,000 adults and children examined as part of the studies, nearly one in seven school girls and a third of women suffered from ‘traction alopecia’ (TA) - hair loss thought to be caused by hairstyles that induce excessive and prolonged pulling of the hair. One in ten men had ‘acne keloidalis nuchae’ (AKN), a skin disorder causing pimples, scarring and hair loss, usually at the back of the head. TA In adults, TA prevalence was higher in both relaxed hair and braided natural hair compared to natural hair without braids; and was highest when the hair was relaxed and also had extensions (such as braids or weaves) attached. This suggests that relaxed hair may be weakened and less resistant to traction, such as is caused by attaching extensions to the hair. AKN Although the length of haircut did not make a significant difference, AKN was higher is men who suffered adverse reactions to head shaving, such as small cuts or bleeding. While the irregular scalp surface of men with AKN could make them more likely to suffer accidental cuts, bleeding was also reported in participants without AKN, which could mean that such symptoms may contribute to disease development. More worrying is the potential for infections carried in the blood to be transmitted by hairdressing implements. “AKN appears to be more common in men who frequently cut their hair, and we have found that it is linked to haircut-associated symptoms, such as pimples, crusts and bleeding. To achieve the shortest possible hair cut metal electric shavers are often dug into the scalp. “The possible risk for blood borne diseases transmission, such as viral hepatitis and HIV, associated with such haircuts needs to be quantified and non mechanical methods of cutting hair may be safer.” Additionally, seven in a hundred women aged over 50 years had central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) – permanent hair loss that spreads from the centre from the scalp. While hair relaxers are thought to play a part, the exact causes remain unknown. Key statistics Relaxed hair is far more common in females (78 percent of girls, 59 percent of women) than males (9 percent of boys, 2 percent of men). 20 percent of children with relaxed hair had TA compared to just 5 percent of those with natural hair. In addition women are more likely to have had many hairstyles. Subsequently, TA affects more females than males (one in three women and 2 percent of men; 17 percent of girls and was not diagnosed in boys). The overall prevalence of AKN was 3.5 percent – significantly higher in men (10.5 percent) than women (0.3 percent). Three-quarters of men had had a haircut within the past month, compared to just 10 percent of women. Men’s haircuts are shorter, more frequent and more likely to cause ‘haircut symptoms’. It is thought that the latter is a factor in the development in AKN, which may explains why it is more common in men. Notes to editors: 1. If using this information, please ensure you mention that the study is being released in the British Journal of Dermatology, the official publication of the British Association of Dermatologists. 2. Articles in the BJD can be viewed online: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/BJD 3. Study details: “Hairdressing and scalp disease in African adults”, and “Hairdressing is associated with scalp disease in African schoolchildren”, both authored by N.P. Khumalo, S. Jessop, F. Gumedze* and R. Ehrlich†; Division of Dermatology, *Department of Statistical Sciences and †School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa 4. Embargo: 00.01 Friday August 24th 2007 The British Association of Dermatologists is the central association of practising UK dermatologists. Our aim is to continually improve the treatment and understanding of skin disease. Blackwell Publishing is a leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. In February 2007, Blackwell Publishing officially merged with John Wiley & Sons, Inc's Scientific, Technical and Medical business. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com or www.blackwell-synergy.com. For more information please contact: Nina Goad, BAD Communications Manager, Phone: 0207 391 6355, Email: nina@bad.org.uk, Website: www.bad.org.uk Wrist monitor reveals blood chemicals linked to itching in eczema Scientists have used a novel wrist monitor to discover a link between chemicals in the blood and the itching caused by atopic eczema, a study in the British Journal of Dermatology will reveal. Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong used the DigiTrac wrist monitor on a group of children suffering from atopic eczema - a dry, itchy inflammation of the skin which is most common in children, affecting at least one in ten babies. The monitor was programmed to record wrist movement, monitoring how often children scratched their eczema during the night while sleeping. The researchers then cross referenced these results with blood samples from each child, looking specifically at certain elements thought to play a role in the itching and scratching response associated with the disorder. They found that high blood serum levels of ‘BDNF’ (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and ‘substance P’ correlate with high levels of itching, suggesting that these are important mediators that create the annoying itching sensation. BDNF is a growth factor initially found in the nervous system. Substance P is another neuropeptide that seems to correlate with the severity of the disease. Recently, scientists at Washington University identified the GRPR (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor) gene which they believe carries the itch signals from the skin to the brain.¹ This latest research in British Journal of Dermatology further explains the possible causes of itching, as it is known that the process behind the mechanism is complex and various neuropeptides and other molecules may be involved. Kam-lun Ellis Hon, one of the study’s authors, said: “Itching and scratching are important clinical parameters for assessing to what extent eczema impacts on the patient’s everyday life, and to gauge the efficacy of its treatment. “As far as we are aware, this is the first report to demonstrate that BDNF and substance P are neuropeptides that are significantly linked to disease activity, quality of life, as well as the levels of scratching as recorded by the wrist monitor.” President of the British Association of Dermatologists, for which British Journal of Dermatology is the official publication, Dr Colin Holden said: “For most eczema sufferers, itching is the worst symptom of the disease. It is more than a slight annoyance - itching is known to keep children awake at night, which in turn affects the parents and can put pressure on the whole family, and sleep deprivation can even affect children’s performance at school. Subsequent scratching of the skin can lead to bleeding, tearing of the skin and infection, exacerbating the disorder. “This study provides information about the role of two neuropeptides in nocturnal scratching of eczema. It is by discovering the mechanisms behind the disease and its symptoms that we can develop new therapies that specifically target the root cause of the problem.” ¹ A gastrin-releasing peptide receptor mediates the itch sensation in the spinal cord , Yan-Gang Sun, Zhou-Feng Chen, Nature, 25 Jul 2007. Notes to editors: 1. If using this information, please ensure you mention that the study is being released in the British Journal of Dermatology, the official publication of the British Association of Dermatologists. 2. Articles in the BJD can be viewed online: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/BJD 3. Study details: ‘Pathophysiology of nocturnal scratching in childhood atopic dermatitis: the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and substance P’ (Short title: BDNF and substance P in nocturnal scratching of AD); K-L.E. Hon, M-C.A. Lam, K-Y. Wong, T-F. Leung and P-C. Ng; Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 6/F, Clinical Science Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong 4. Embargo: 00.01 Friday August 24th 2007 The British Association of Dermatologists is the central association of practising UK dermatologists. Our aim is to continually improve the treatment and understanding of skin disease. Blackwell Publishing is a leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. In February 2007, Blackwell Publishing officially merged with John Wiley & Sons, Inc's Scientific, Technical and Medical business. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com or www.blackwell-synergy.com. For more information please contact: Nina Goad, BAD Communications Manager, Phone: 0207 391 6355, Email: nina@bad.org.uk, Website: www.bad.org.uk Shocking sunbed study shows increased cancer risk A study due to be published in the August 2007 British Journal of Dermatology has uncovered worrying new findings about sunbeds, including a rise in ‘high power’ sunbeds and a lack of knowledge by users of the cancer risks involved. Scientists at the Their study revealed a 30 percent increase in the number of privately operated sunbeds since 1998, despite increased warnings over the cancer dangers involved in sunbed use. The team also measured the levels of cancer-causing UV radiation created by each sunbed, and found that a shocking 83 percent produced UVB radiation levels that exceed the European standard. UVB is generally considered to be the particularly dangerous and is closely linked to induction of skin cancer. Equally worrying is the emergence of stronger, high power sunbeds. Dr “People sometimes use sunbeds in the mistaken belief that they are a safe alternative to conventional tanning, but this is simply not the case – the average sunbed is now carries the same cancer risk as the The researchers then conducted a survey of sunbed users, discovering that a staggering 15 percent do not believe that sunbeds carry a health risk. Of those who did feel sunbeds carry risks, only 56 percent mentioned cancer. Other findings of concern are as follows:
Dr Moseley said: “In comparing these results with those obtained in the 1997 study, a number of key differences should be highlighted. We have found a 30 percent increase in the number of privately operated sunbeds. This is particularly disturbing because in the earlier study, in which we looked at environmental health factors, we found that many privately operated sunbeds had major faults; for example, 89 percent did not attempt to impose a limit on the number of sessions, 81 percent provided inadequate information, 59 percent maintained no customer records and 33 percent failed to display guidance. Therefore, it is a cause for concern that the number of sunbeds provided by the private sector is increasing. “Another factor that has emerged is that the mean cancer risk for all machines is now comparable to that from Mediterranean sun, whereas in the previous study this only applied to stand-up booths. This increase in carcinogenic potential is directly related to the widespread use of high power sunlamps, both in stand-up booths and lie-down sunbeds. “Also, for the first time, we identified premises with unmanned sunbeds. These have no supervision and anyone, including children, may use the facilities. There is no limit imposed on the dose per session nor the number of sessions. “The majority of sunbeds do not comply with the British and European standard for cosmetic tanning units. 83 per cent of sunbeds produced UVB irradiances that exceeded the limit specified in the standard. Product standards are intended to protect the public but, clearly, sunbed manufacturers are ignoring the standard and there is no effective control on the suppliers or operators. Notes to editors:
For more information please contact: Shona Singers, Head of Corporate Communications, NHS Tayside, Phone: 01382 424138 / 07740937359. Dr
Study shows school children are not protected from skin cancer A study due to be released at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Conference this week will reveal that school children are shockingly unprotected from cancer-causing sun damage. To better understand sun safety measures in schools in the South East of Ireland, researchers at Waterford Regional Hospital in Waterford, Irealnd, surveyed 345 primary schools. The aim of the survey was to determine whether a sun protection policy existed in these schools, to find out about current school practices in sun protection and teachers’ opinions about the importance of sun protection for children. Although every school surveyed had outdoor activities scheduled between and , when the sun is at its strongest, almost half had had no shaded areas in the playground. Additionally, 95 percent had no documented sun protection policy, although eight out of ten of principals and teachers feel this was a necessary measure. Dermatologist Mary Laing, one of the scientists who conducted the study, said: “Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. All types of skin cancer are largely preventable through limiting exposure to UV radiation in sunlight. “Childhood exposure to UV radiation from the sun and a history of sunburns are risk factors for melanoma and basal cell car carcinoma. School policies addressing sun protection are therefore an important issue. Schools are an appropriate venue for sun protection programmes as learning sun protective behaviour at school may lead to protective behaviour outside school also. The majority of teachers feel that sun exposure in childhood is an important health concern, however there is no sun protection policy in place for schools in Ireland .” Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “It is thought that just a couple of cases of sunburn as a child could as much as double your chance of getting skin cancer later in life. That’s why we are working hard to promote sun safety information to schools with leaflets and posters, and we hope this study will encourage schools to be more sun savvy and take steps to protect their students.” Summary of results:
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Nina Goad , Communications Manager, Phone: 0207 391 6355, Email: nina@bad.org.uk , Website: www.bad.org.uk
Deadly skin cancer cases continue to rise in the south-west A study due to be released at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Conference this week will reveal worrying skin cancer rates in Cornwall. The South West region has among the highest levels of ‘malignant melanoma’, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in the UK . In 2002, the Chief Medical Officer announced that diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma in the South West region were over a third higher than the national average. Of even more concern, he also stated that the South West has 26 percent more deaths from the disease than the national average. This meant that the South West had the highest numbers of both cases and deaths from the disease, compared to eight other English regions.¹ A team of scientists from Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth conducted the new study to see whether melanoma cases are continuing to rise in the region, comparing data from 2003, to the most recently available data (2005). Due to be presented on Tuesday July 10 th at the conference, the study reveals a rise in melanoma cases of 18 percent in just two years. Consultant Oncologist (cancer specialist) at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and one of the team who carried out the study , Dr Alastair Thomson said: “The south-west has a particularly high number of melanoma cases. Our study was to see if this high number is increasing further. By reviewing the Royal Cornwall Hospital records for 2005, we found that there was an increase in patients with melanoma of 18 percent comparing 2005 with 2003, with 134 new diagnoses in 2005 in Cornwall. “As well as an actual rise in cases of melanoma, there are several other possible reasons for this increase, including better detection, treatment and recording of cases, or if people with a high risk of melanoma moved to the area. However, it is also worth noting that the actual figures could be higher still, as some people do not seek treatment or are treated elsewhere. “It is not clear why the south-west has such high numbers, but possible reasons are too much exposure to the sun, outdoor lifestyles and having a fairer skinned population. Overall, we can conclude that the number of melanoma cases does still remain high in this region, and appears to be increasing. We are therefore hoping this study will encourage people to take care protecting their skin from the sun, and to seek advice from a health professional at an early stage if they notice any changes to their skin.” Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “This study shows a worrying trend that is present across the UK but particularly in Cornwall and surrounding areas. Melanoma kills 2,000 people in the UK every year – that’s equivalent to a bus load of people dying every week. “In the vast majority of cases, it is a preventable disease, with excess sun exposure as the main cause. “We have sent leaflets and posters to various hospital departments, schools, pharmacies and businesses across the south-west, as part of a campaign to educate people on staying safe in the sun and to show what changes to look out for that may indicate a skin cancer, so people can seek treatment early. “ Australia is often thought of as the skin cancer capital of the world, however the UK death rate from the disease is now one and a half times higher than theirs. Following a publicity campaign, skin cancer figure in Australia have finally started to plateau, while ours continue to rise. Our aim is to mimic their success in teaching people about staying safe in the sun.”
¹Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, ‘Health Check - Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2002’ - ends- Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Nina Goad, Communications Manager, Phone: 0207 391 6355, Email: nina@bad.org.uk, Website: www.bad.org.uk |
