Sunscreen doesn't protect as well as it could: Here is what is missing
Add iron-trapping extracts to sunscreen to make it a lot more effective


Date:
April 12, 2022
Source:
University of Bath
Summary:
A new article finds a strong link between the actions of free
radicals and free iron in the skin -- a link that causes skin to
age prematurely after exposure to the sun. The researchers have
also identified antioxidants that can be added to skin products
to mop-up the harmful iron, thereby minimizing sun damage.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A key ingredient is missing from all sunscreens and anti-aging creams,
and our skin will be far better protected from the damaging effects of
the sun once this rich source of natural photoprotection has been added.


==========================================================================
This is the finding of a new study into sun-related skin aging carried out
at the UK's University of Bath and published in the journal Antioxidants.

The missing ingredient is a class of antioxidant (a type of stable
molecule) commonly found in nature. Experiments have shown that these antioxidant molecules eliminate excess iron in cells, thereby helping
cells maintain a healthy level of free radicals (a type of unstable
molecule). Free radicals and free iron are strongly linked to skin damage.

"By including these potent antioxidants in skin-care products and
sunscreen formulations, and therefore trapping free iron*, we can expect
to get an unprecedented level of protection from the sun," says Dr
Charareh Pourzand, who led the research from the Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology and the Centre for Therapeutic Innovation at the University
of Bath.

Scientists have known for some time that iron deposits promote the
appearance of aging, but the latest study highlights the interplay
between free iron and free radicals in the skin. As a result of their
findings, Dr Pourzand urges skin-care manufacturers to look more closely
at opportunities to include iron- trapping extracts in their products.

A number of iron-trapping natural extracts have already been identified
in the Bath lab (these include several classes of botanical, fungal and marine-based compounds, among them extracts from certain vegetables,
fruits, nuts, seeds, bark and flowers), however Dr Pourzand says more
research is needed before any of these compounds are fit for commercial purpose.



========================================================================== "Though the antioxidants we've identified work well in laboratory
conditions, they don't necessarily remain stable once they've been added
to a cream," she says. "These extracts come from plants, and environmental factors affect their stability and long-term effectiveness -- anything
from the season in which they are grown, soil type, latitude and the
time of harvest can change the strength by which they can neutralise free radicals as well as work as iron traps." She adds: "What is needed now is
for the bioactive chemicals in these extracts to be standardised -- once
that has happened, they can and should be added to products designed to
protect the skin from aging." Sun exposure and skin aging The sunscreens
on the market today are designed to either block or absorb UV rays. In so doing, they lower the number of free radicals that are created on the skin
-- it is these unstable molecules that cause skin damage and aging, in a process known as oxidative stress. Free radicals cause harm by damaging
DNA and other cell components, and this sometimes results in cell death.

What has not been given consideration in sun-care and anti-aging
formulations is the role of iron, both in damaging the skin directly
when it interacts with UV radiation and in amplifying the damage caused
by free radicals.



========================================================================== "This needs to change," says Dr Pourzand. "Formulations need to adapt
and improve." The antioxidant compounds identified at Bath have the
ability to protect the skin against both chronological aging (the natural decline in skin texture that comes with age) and sun-mediated aging
(known as photoaging).

Though the body needs iron to function properly, too much (or too little)
is harmful or even deadly to our cells. To protect themselves from this
danger, our cells have a well-developed system for adjusting excess iron
when it builds up, thereby bringing it back to a state of balance (known
as homeostasis). In the presence of sunlight, however, this balance is disrupted, leading to skin damage, aging and sometimes cancer.

Chronological aging also contributes to iron levels falling out of
balance, especially in women after the menopause, meaning older people
(and particularly older women) are more vulnerable than others to the
ravaging effects of the sun.

The consultancy work delivered by Dr Pourzand for this study was
facilitated by Consultancy Services in Research and Innovation Services
(RIS) at the University of Bath.

* Free iron is not to be mistaken for bound or stored iron, both of
which are essential for the body.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Bath. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Charareh Pourzand, Andrea Albieri-Borges, Nico N. Raczek. Shedding
a New
Light on Skin Aging, Iron- and Redox-Homeostasis and Emerging
Natural Antioxidants. Antioxidants, 2022; 11 (3): 471 DOI:
10.3390/antiox11030471 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220412140903.htm

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