Sunscreen is Needed For Healthy Glowing Skin

About two months ago, my father was diagnosed with skin cancer. Fortunately, it was not a diagnosis of melanoma. However, the diagnoses was still devastating and mortifying. He underwent treatment shortly after and is now cancer free. The physician indicated the skin cancer was a possible result of not applying sunscreen. Unlike my father, I liberally apply sunscreen multiple times if I’m out in the sun for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, I’m cursed with pale skin and burn easily. The recent diagnoses of my father sparked my interest to read this scientific study. The scientific study examined the molecular changes of the skin cells associated with skin cancer with and without sunscreen.

According to the article, melanoma is a form of skin cancer that results from melanocytes, the pigment producing cells of the skin. It is hypothesized that the increased production of melanocytes may be associated with melanoma. The link between ultraviolet radiation and melanoma are undetermined and farther investigation needs to be conducted.  The p53 gene plays an important role in preventing skin cancer by repairing UV damaged skin. The p53 gene can be mutated overtime with increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation and repeated burning of the skin. The mutated p53 gene displays a loss in the capabilities to repair UV damaged skin resulting in the increased risk of skin cancer.

According to the study, 24 hours after solar-simulated ultraviolet radiation (SSUVR) keratinocytes and melanocytes both skin cells displayed UV induced DNA damage. The unexposed skin and skin protected with sunscreen displayed no UV induced DNA damage. The UV induced DNA damage can increase the risk of melanoma. The application of sunscreen can diminish DNA damage associated with ultraviolet radiation and reduce the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.

The expression of the p53 gene was present in keratinocytes and melanocytes. The gene expression in both cells increased 24 hours after being exposed to SSUVR, the expression of the gene decreased at 14 days. The application of sunscreen displayed no p53 expression in keratinocytes and melanocytes after exposure to SSUVR. The expression of the p53 gene is to prevent cell death by repairing cells with UV damage. The application of sunscreen diminishes the expression of p53; the cells are not exposed to damaging ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the expression of the gene is not needed to prevent cell death of normal healthy skin cells.

The study also displayed at day 14 there was an increased amount of melanocytes after SSUVR exposure when compared with sunscreen. According to the article the increased melanocytes increased the pigmentation of the skin and helps prevent against induced DNA damage. The results are significant and display the effectiveness of sunscreen. The application of sunscreen is imperative to prevent molecular changes in skin cells associated with skin cancer.

 Don't forget to apply sunscreen to prevent skin cancer! Don't forget your sunglasses and other sun protective gear to help protect against ultraviolet radiation!

References

Queensland University of Technology (2013, October 8). Sunscreen saves superhero gene. Sciencedaily. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131008102551.htm

Hacker, E., Boyce, Z., Kimlin, G.M., Wockner, L., Pollak, T., Vaartjes, A.S., Hayward, K.N., Whiteman, C.D. (2013). The effect of MC1R variants and sunscreen on the response of human melanocytes in vivo to ultraviolet radiation and implications for melanoma. Pigm. Cell Melanoma Res. 1-11.

Yamaguchi, Y., Coelho, S.G., Zmudzka, B.Z., Takahashi, K., Beer, J.Z., Hearing, V.J., and Miller, S.A. (2008). Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer formation and p53 production in human skin after repeated UV irradiation. Exp. Dermatol. 17, 916–924.