Proceedings of the Heinz Maurer-Symposium: Review and Preview in Science for Healthy Skin, June 28, 2014, Jakobsberg, Boppard, Germany

The Heinz Maurer-Symposium held on June 28, 2014, celebrated the 10th conferment of the Heinz Maurer Award and discussed various topics in skin research. Prof. Johanna Brandner and Dr. Peter Arne Gerber were recognized for their work on skin proteins and cutaneous host defense. The symposium addressed the skin's acid mantle, lipid organization in the skin barrier, and the interaction between melanocyte and epithelial stem cells in hair follicle regeneration. It also covered the role of dendritic cells in skin health, particularly in psoriasis, and the need for more research on the balance of immune responses in the skin. The limitations of in vitro skin models and the need for their improvement were discussed, as well as the pathogenesis of chronic hand eczema and the effects of EGFR inhibitors on skin health. Two cross-sectional studies in China involving over 400 rural housewives and over 1000 men and women found that indoor and outdoor air pollution significantly contributes to skin aging, with various signs of aging observed in different populations, highlighting the impact of environmental factors on skin health.