Researchers found that taking N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, before being exposed to UV radiation protected against UV-induced oxidative stress. This reduction was measured by glutathione levels in the tissue. The implication is reducing free-radical damage to the skin will reduce the risk of melanoma.

In a recent study scientists have been able to identify the mechanism that the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, uses to reduce inflammation on the skin.

The conventional thinking on wound healing has been that chemicals causing inflammation in a wound are necessary for wound healing. Lately, studies have been showing that good wound healing occurs when there are low levels of these inflammatory chemicals.

The skin always has bacteria on it, the same bacteria that cause infections if they get into the body. This study showed that one of those skin bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, produces a molecule that blocks a certain receptor on the skin from making inflammatory chemicals in response to a wound.

But it doesn't block all of the inflammation. This bacteria is able to keep the receptor from making too many inflammatory chemicals. It allows just enough required for good wound healing.

In a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, investigators found that the number of infections with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) increased more than 90% between 1999 and 2006. The study also found that over time more MRSA infections are community acquired (CA-MRSA) compared to hospital acquired (HA-MRSA).

The FDA recently approved a new non-narcotic patch for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, a very painful complication of a shingles infection. The name of the new patch is Qutenza and it contains 8% capsaicin, a substance found in chili peppers that causes a burning sensation when applied.

The interesting thing about this treatment is application of the patch to the affected skin for just 1 hour can actually give up to 12 weeks of pain relief.