TAGS: Sun Care
Skin Care
The Skin Care Research, Analytical Science Research, and Biological Science Research Divisions of Kao Corporation have been pursuing novel methods for determination of invisible photodamage in skin via evaluation of biophotons, ultraweak photons emitted from the body, in order to prevent photoaging.
Kao’s Findings on Skin Condition
Kao’s present findings reveal a unique set of skin conditions leading to a decrease in skin water content as well as increase in skin surface roughness caused by oxidative damage, represented by higher biophoton emissions from 1 to 3 minutes after ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Furthermore, these typical changes in skin were shown to be related to a history of chronic sun exposure.
The present results indicate that chronic UV damage can lead to photoaging via an early skin deterioration process, resulting in skin dehydration accompanied by surface roughness.
UV Exposure Leads to Sensitive Skin
Kao researchers have conducted studies to evaluate invisible UV-induced skin damage by detecting biophotons, ultraweak photons emitted by various oxidized components from the body. Among those oxides, UV-induced lipid peroxides have been found to essentially represent hidden skin damage, which can be determined by measuring the levels of long-lasting biophotons emitted from 1 to 3 minutes after UV irradiation. This showed that with an increase in biophotons generated from 1 to 3 minutes after UV exposure, skin is more likely to become sensitive to UV-induced damage.
UV Damage: Result of Higher Level of Biophotons in Skin
For the study, Kao assumed that certain phenotypic changes caused by accumulation of UV damage could become more pronounced in skin with higher amounts of biophotons. Thus, the researchers determined biophoton amounts from 1 to 3 minutes after UV irradiation in 43 female volunteers (age 20s) with a variety of skin conditions. The findings showed that susceptibility to UV damage is revealed by higher biophoton production, tended to be related to decreased water content in the stratum corneum and increased skin surface roughness.
Sun Exposure Increases Skin Roughness
Kao researchers speculated that unintended skin damage might proceed prior to development of an obvious photoaging phenotype.
The relationship between history of sun exposure and skin condition was examined in female volunteers who did not have major skin concerns such as pigment spots or wrinkles. The subjects were divided into the indoor and outdoor groups according to history of sun exposure, which was determined by use of a modified questionnaire that assumed a standard sun exposure history from the age of 6 years to the present.
Among the various skin properties examined in the subjects, it was found that water content in the stratum corneum was significantly decreased and skin surface roughness was significantly increased in the outdoor group as compared with the indoor group.
Daily UV exposure can lead to accumulation of photodamage in skin, which is more apparent in damage-sensitive skin with possibly greater biophoton generation.
Source: Kao