title: Effect of UV irradiation on cutaneous cicatrices: a randomized, controlled trial with clinical, skin reflectance, histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluations.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on human cutaneous cicatrices. In this randomized, controlled study, dermal punch biopsy wounds served as a wound healing model. Wounds healed by primary or second intention and were randomized to postoperative solar UV irradiation or to no UV exposure. Evaluations after 5 and 12 weeks included blinded clinical assessments, skin reflectance measurements, histology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analyses of the N-terminal propeptide from procollagen-1, hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, and proline. Twelve weeks postoperatively, UV-irradiated cicatrices healing by second intention: (i) were significantly pointed out as the most disfiguring; (ii) obtained significantly higher scores of colour, infiltration and cicatrix area; and (iii) showed significantly higher increase in skin-reflectance measurements of skin-pigmentation vs. non-irradiated cicatrices. No histological, immunohistochemical or biochemical differences were found. In conclusion, postoperative UV exposure aggravates the clinical appearance of cicatrices in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hopsital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. dueeva@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Due
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.forename: Lars Tue
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kliem
authors.forename: Tonny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsmark
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haedersdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing