Human skin is continually changing. The condition of the skin largely depends on the individual’s overall state of health. A balanced diet plays an important role in the proper functioning of the human body, including the skin. The present study draws attention to bioactive substances, i.e., vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, with a particular focus on their effects on the condition of the skin. The aim of the study was to review the literature on the effects of bioactive substances on skin parameters such as elasticity, firmness, wrinkles, senile dryness, hydration and color, and to define their role in the process of skin ageing.

Skin and wound infections are serious medical problems, and the diversity of bacteria makes such infections difficult to treat. Bacteria possess many virulence factors, among which motility plays a key role in skin infections. This feature allows for movement over the skin surface and relocation into the wound. The aim of this paper is to review the type of bacterial movement and to indicate the underlying mechanisms than can serve as a target for developing or modifying antibacterial therapies applied in wound infection treatment. Five types of bacterial movement are distinguished: appendage-dependent (swimming, swarming, and twitching) and appendage-independent (gliding and sliding). All of them allow bacteria to relocate and aid bacteria during infection. Swimming motility allows bacteria to spread from ‘persister cells’ in biofilm microcolonies and colonise other tissues. Twitching motility enables bacteria to press through the tissues during infection, whereas sliding motility allows cocci (defined as non-motile) to migrate over surfaces. Bacteria during swarming display greater resistance to antimicrobials. Molecular motors generating the focal adhesion complexes in the bacterial cell leaflet generate a ‘wave’, which pushes bacterial cells lacking appendages, thereby enabling movement. Here, we present the five main types of bacterial motility, their molecular mechanisms, and examples of bacteria that utilise them. Bacterial migration mechanisms can be considered not only as a virulence factor but also as a target for antibacterial therapy.

The increasing number of patients with chronic wounds requires the development of quick and accurate diagnostics methods. One of the key and challenging aspects of treating ulcers is to control wound infection. Early detection of infection is essential for the application of suitable treatment methods, such as systemic antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. Clinically, the most frequently used method for detecting microorganisms in wounds is through a swab and culture on appropriate media. This test has major limitations, such as the long bacterial growth time and the selectivity of bacterial growth. This article presents an overview of molecular methods for detecting bacteria in wounds, including real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), genotyping, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). We focus on the LAMP method, which has not yet been widely used to detect bacteria in wounds, but it is an interesting alternative to conventional detection methods. LAMP does not require additional complicated equipment and provides the fastest detection time for microorganisms (approx. 30 min reaction). It also allows the use of many pairs of primers in one reaction and determination of up to 15 organisms in one sample. Isothermal amplification of DNA is currently the easiest and most economical method for microbial detection in wound infection. Direct visualization of the reaction with dyes, along with omitting DNA isolation, has increased the potential use of this method.

Background/Objectives: Mandelic acid as a chemical peel has been used in cosmetology for years and is being gradually exchanged for lactobionic acid. However, in the cosmetology literature, there is no information on the effectiveness of the aforementioned peels in terms of hydration and elasticity for women’s facial skin depending on their age. The effects of lactobionic and mandelic acid on the skin of women aged 30–40 and 50–60 years are assessed in terms of their moisturizing and elasticizing effects. Methods: The participants of this study were 180 women aged 30–40 and 50–60 years. The selection of the group was random. Contraindications to the examination were excluded in all participants. The level of hydration was assessed using Tewameter and the level of elasticity using a cutometric probe (Courage-Khazaka Multi Test Skin Center MC 1000, Kőln, Germany). The participants also used a moisturizer. Moreover, a series of five exfoliating treatments using 40% mandelic acid or 40% lactobionic acid were performed in 120 of the participants. After 14 days since the last treatment, the assessment of their facial skin’s hydration and elasticity was performed yet again. Results: In the case of women aged 30–40 years, the level of hydration and elasticity increased after using lactobionic and mandelic acid, as well as a moisturizer. In the group of older women aged 50–60 years, the level of elasticity increased after using both acids and moisturizer, but the hydration parameter increased only after the usage of lactobionic acid and moisturizer. Conclusions: In terms of age, lactobionic acid will be more suitable for people aged 50–60, while for women aged 30–40, lactobionic or mandelic acid can be used.