Cheek

The skin microbiome varies across individuals. The causes of these variations are inadequately understood. We tested the hypothesis that inter-individual variation in facial skin microbiome can be significantly explained by variation in sebum and hydration levels in specific facial regions of humans. We measured sebum and hydration from forehead and cheek regions of healthy female volunteers (n = 30). Metagenomic DNA from skin swabs were sequenced for V3-V5 regions of 16S rRNA gene. Altogether, 34 phyla were identified; predominantly Actinobacteria (66.3%), Firmicutes (17.7%), Proteobacteria (13.1%) and Bacteroidetes (1.4%). About 1000 genera were identified; predominantly Propionibacterium (58.6%), Staphylococcus (8.6%), Streptococcus (4.0%), Corynebacterium (3.6%) and Paracoccus (3.3%). A subset (n = 24) of individuals were sampled two months later. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that cheek sebum level was the most significant predictor of microbiome composition and diversity followed by forehead hydration level; forehead sebum and cheek hydration levels were not. With increase in cheek sebum, the prevalence of Actinobacteria (p = 0.001)/Propionibacterium (p = 0.002) increased, whereas microbiome diversity decreased (Shannon Index, p = 0.032); this was opposite for other phyla/genera. These trends were reversed for forehead hydration levels. Therefore, the nature and diversity of facial skin microbiome is jointly determined by site-specific lipid and water levels in the stratum corneum.

Basic cosmetics was used by volunteers belonging to high (HHG) and low (LHG) hydration groups for 4 weeks, and bacterial communities and biophysical parameters in facial skin were analyzed. Hydration level increases and transepidermal water loss and roughness decreases were observed in both groups after cosmetic use. Bacterial diversity was greater in LHG than HHG, and increased after cosmetic use in both groups. Bray-Curtis dissimilarities that were higher in LHG than HHG increased in HHG after cosmetic use, whereas they decreased in LHG. The phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes and the genera Propionibacterium, Ralstonia, Burkholderia, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Cupriavidus, and Pelomonas were identified as common groups and they were not significantly different between LHG and HHG except for Propionibacterium that was more abundant in HHG. After cosmetic use, Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium decreased, whereas Ralstonia, not a core genus, increased, as did KEGG categories of lipid metabolism and xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, suggesting that Ralstonia in skin may have the ability to metabolize cosmetics components. Bacterial communities after cosmetic use were different from those in both LHG and HHG before the cosmetic use, indicating that bacterial communities in LHG were not shifted to resemble those in HHG by cosmetics use.

Tissue regeneration has become a promising treatment for craniomaxillofacial bone defects such as alveolar clefts. This study sought to assess the efficacy of lateral ramus cortical plate with buccal fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells (BFSCs) in treatment of human alveolar cleft defects. Ten patients with unilateral anterior maxillary cleft met the inclusion criteria and were assigned to three treatment groups. First group was treated with anterior iliac crest (AIC) bone and a collagen membrane (AIC group), the second group was treated with lateral ramus cortical bone plate (LRCP) with BFSCs mounted on a natural bovine bone mineral (LRCP+BFSC), and the third group was treated with AIC bone, BFSCs cultured on natural bovine bone mineral, and a collagen membrane (AIC+BFSC). The amount of regenerated bone was measured using cone beam computed tomography 6 months postoperatively. AIC group showed the least amount of new bone formation (70 ± 10.40%). LRCP+BFSC group demonstrated defect closure and higher amounts of new bone formation (75 ± 3.5%) but less than AIC+BFSC (82.5 ± 6.45%), suggesting that use of BFSCs within LRCP cage and AIC may enhance bone regeneration in alveolar cleft bone defects; however, the differences were not statistically significant. This clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrial.gov with NCT02859025 identifier.

BackgroundChanges in cheek skin texture and surface smoothness are prominent features of facial aging and increasingly targeted by modern aesthetic interventions. However, despite rising demand for minimally invasive aesthetic procedures to improve cheek skin quality, validated site-specific photonumeric assessment tools remain limited.AimsTo develop and validate a novel photonumeric assessment tool, the Cheek Smoothness Scale (CSS), for evaluating cheek skin smoothness and surface texture.MethodsThe CSS was developed as a five-grade photonumeric scale using standardized clinical photographs. Inter- and intra-rater reliability were assessed using Fleiss' and Cohen's kappa statistics based on single-angle (45°) and multi-angle image assessments by five board-certified dermatologists. Construct validity was further examined by objective skin surface roughness measurements (Ra values) obtained using the PRIMOS CR three-dimensional imaging system.ResultsThe CSS demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability, with kappa values consistently in the good-to-very good range. Complete agreement between single- and multi-angle assessments supported the use of the 45° oblique view as a representative angle for evaluating cheek skin texture. CSS grades also showed a progressive increase in PRIMOS-derived Ra values, indicating strong concordance between visually assessed skin smoothness and objectively measured surface roughness.ConclusionsThe CSS is a reliable, reproducible, and clinically meaningful photonumeric scale for assessing cheek skin smoothness and surface texture. By integrating visual assessment with objective validation of surface smoothness, the CSS provides a valuable outcome measure for clinical research and real-world aesthetic practice.