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Oral Photoprotection Strategies in Dermatology
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract nowBACKGROUND
Photoprotection is the first measure in the prevention and treatment of the deleterious effects that sunlight can cause on the skin. It is well known that prolonged exposure to solar radiation leads to acute and chronic complications, such as erythema, accelerated skin aging, proinflammatory and procarcinogenic effects, and eye damage, among others.
METHODS
A better understanding of the molecules that can protect against ultraviolet radiation and their effects will lead to improvements in skin health.
RESULTS
Most of these effects of the sunlight are modulated by oxidative stress and proinflammatory mechanisms, therefore, the supplementation of substances that can regulate and neutralize reactive oxygen species would be beneficial for skin protection. Current evidence indicates that systemic photoprotection should be used as an adjunctive measure to topical photoprotection.
CONCLUSION
Oral photoprotectors are a promising option in improving protection against damage induced by UVR, as they contain active ingredients that increase the antioxidant effects of the body, complementing other photoprotection measures. We present a review of oral photoprotectors and their effects.
Additional Info
Sunproofing from within: A deep dive into oral photoprotection strategies in dermatology
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2024 Jul 01;40(4)e12985, D Hartmann, F ValenzuelaFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
While the strategy for comprehensive photoprotection of seeking shade, wearing photoprotective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, and applying sunscreen to otherwise exposed sites is well-established, oral and systemic photoprotection has been studied for many years. For example, down-regulation of UV-induced cutaneous changes has been described for Polypodium leukotomos since the mid-1990s and for green tea since at least 2003. In 2015, a phase III randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention was published and the effectiveness of subcutaneous implantation of afamelanotide in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) was reported, both in The New England Journal of Medicine.
This article is a well-organized, comprehensive review of the topic. The advantage of oral photoprotection is its convenience. However, all of the agents discussed should be used, as the authors stated, as adjunctive measures to the established photoprotection strategy. The sole exception is afamelanotide, which was approved by US FDA for EPP as a subcutaneous implant on Oct 8, 2019. As all of the agents (except for afamelanotide) are over-the-counter preparations, judicious use might be helpful to partially down-regulate the side effects of sun exposure.