Chemical form of silicon determines its absorption and bioavailability: particulate and polymerized forms exhibit minimal oral bioavailability, while monomers (maltodextrin-stabilized orthosilicic acid, M-OSA) and organic compounds (monomethylsilanetriol, MMST) may hypothetically be highly absorbed. This study aimed to investigate the dermatological effects of oral ingestion of silicon, either solid (M-OSA–SiliciuMax^® Powder) or liquid (MMST, SiliciuMax^® Liquid) on the skin, hair and nails of healthy volunteers, through a clinical trial (Registry number 2,032,724. Full protocol at Plataforma Brasil website). Patients were randomized to receive 5 mg of elemental Si, either M-OSA or MMST (group 1 and 2, n = 17 each) or placebo (group 3, n = 17) twice a day for 150 days. Clinical and patients’ subjective evaluations were conducted. Multispectral face imaging and hair mineral analysis were also performed. Use of M-OSA and MMST provided significant (p < 0.05) betterment of facial wrinkles and UV spots. Changes were also observed at the end of the study in skin texture and length of eyelashes. Hair aluminum levels decrease with the treatments. Self-reported questionnaire indicated good satisfaction with both M-OSA and MMST. Continuous use of both M-OSA and MMST can provide improvements on skin parameters, as well as act as a detox agent for aluminum.

Herpes zoster (HZ) occurs as a result of the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus and is characterized by neuralgic pain, constitutive symptoms, pruritus and dysesthesia along nerve pathways. Vesicles on an erythematous base in a dermatome can be identified, and vision loss may occur in cases of ocular involvement. HZ is clinically diagnosed and treated with antivirals. This study aims to report a rare case of HZ simultaneously affecting the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and the lumbar and sacral dermatomes. The patient was clinically cured after treatment with acyclovir for 7 days and did not present other complications.