Acne Rosacea: [rosacea] Re: Stress and skin/ Tap water and glucocorticoids

Saturday, December 09, 2006

[rosacea] Re: Stress and skin/ Tap water and glucocorticoids

Expanding on my last post you can up regulate and down regulate DNA
expression of this hormone through tap water:

http://medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=58194

--- In rosacea-support@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" <jrueus@...> wrote:
>
> Glucocorticoid Plays Key Role In Skin Abnormalities Induced By
> Psychological Stress
> Main Category: Dermatology News
> Article Date: 05 Dec 2006 - 5:00am (PST)
>
>
> Inhibiting glucocorticoid, a type of steroid, can prevent skin
> abnormalities induced by psychological stress, according to a new
> study from the December issue of the American Journal of
> Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. The new
> study also shows how psychological stress induces skin abnormalities
> that could initiate or worsen skin disorders such as psoriasis and
> atopic dermatitis.
>
> The study, "Glucocorticoid blockade reverses psychological
> stress-induced abnormalities in epidermal structure and function," was
> carried out by Eung-Ho Choi, Marianne Demerjian, Debra Crumrine,
> Barbara E. Brown, Theodora Mauro, Peter M. Elias and Kenneth R.
> Feingold of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco and the
> University of California at San Francisco. Choi is also associated
> with Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. The
> American Physiological Society published the study.
>
> Previous research has shown that psychological stress increases
> glucocorticoid production. In addition, it is well recognized that
> psychological stress adversely affects many skin disorders, including
> psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
>
> "In this study, we showed that the increase in glucocorticoids induced
> by psychological stress induces abnormalities in skin structure and
> function, which could exacerbate skin diseases," Feingold explained.
> This provides a link for understanding how psychological stress can
> adversely affect skin disorders. Blocking the production or action of
> glucocorticoids prevented the skin abnormalities induced by
> psychological stress.
>
> Skin protects
>
> The skin is the body's largest organ and plays a crucial role in
> providing a barrier between the environment and the internal organs.
> It protects us from harmful microorganisms, ultraviolet light, toxic
> chemicals, and more. However, its most important function is providing
> a permeability barrier that prevents us from drying out. We are
> approximately 65 percent water and we are able to survive and function
> in dry environments because the skin forms a permeability barrier that
> prevents the loss of water.
>
> The permeability barrier is located in the outermost layer of the
> epidermis, the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is composed of
> dead cells surrounded by lipid membranes which mediate the
> permeability barrier. The stratum corneum layer continuously sloughs
> off, and therefore must be regenerated. The epidermal cells in the
> lower epidermis are continuously proliferating to provide new cells,
> which then differentiate, and ultimately die, to form the stratum
corneum.
>
> Previous studies have shown that psychological stress disturbs this
> elegantly balanced system by decreasing epidermal cell proliferation
> and inhibiting differentiation. Additionally, permeability barrier
> function is impaired. The researchers hypothesized that the increase
> in glucocorticoids induced by psychological stress would cause these
> adverse effects on skin function.
>
> Study with hairless mice
>
> They tested their hypothesis by subjecting hairless mice to stress
> while either blocking the production of glucocorticoids or preventing
> them from acting on the body. The stress was created by placing the
> mice in small cages in constant light with a radio playing for 48 hours.
>
> Before placing the mice in the stressful situation, the researchers
> treated one group of mice with RU 486, a substance that blocks the
> action of glucocorticoids.
>
> A second group of mice received antalarmin, which blocks
> glucocorticoid production. A third group was subjected to the stress
> but received neither antalarmin nor RU 486. The fourth group, the
> control group, remained unstressed in ordinary cages and without the
> continuous light and sound to which the other groups were exposed.
>
> Results confirm hypothesis
>
> The stressed mice that received RU 486 and antalarmin showed
> significantly better skin function compared to the stressed mice that
> did not receive either treatment. The treated mice showed
> significantly better:
>
> * proliferation
>
> * differentiation
>
> * permeability barrier function
>
> * stratum corneum integrity
>
> The experiment demonstrated the important role that glucocorticoids
> play in inducing the skin abnormalities brought on by psychological
> stress. While the researchers hope the study will lead to a way to
> treat people who suffer these skin conditions, there is still a long
> way to go: First, the research was done with mice, not people. Second,
> there may be serious side effects of modulating glucocorticoid
> activity. Glucocorticoids are essential hormones that play many
> important roles. Blocking the action of glucocorticoids could have
> negative outcomes that are much worse than exacerbations in the skin
> disorders.
>
> The research team is now looking at the effect of psychological stress
> on the skin's production of antimicrobial peptides, which play a role
> in defense against infection. They hypothesize that psychological
> stress might also reduce the ability of the skin to protect from
> infections.
>