New Research Highlights the Importance of Further Studies on Topical DNA Repair after Ultraviolet Light Skin Damage

A study found that after exposure to ultraviolet light, damaged skin with altered genes did not recover using topical DNA repair enzymes.

It is known that deoxynucleic acid (DNA) damage to the skin is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. The study says that practitioners continue to face challenges despite the fact that this damage is well documented.

“The ability to treat DNA damage and restore skin to the original state before it is grossly damaged remains a clinical challenge,” Jane M. Anderson, BSA, of the research department at Moy-Fincher-Chipps Facial Plastics & Dermatology in Beverly Hills, California, and colleagues wrote.

To assess the skin’s natural recovery mechanisms, the researchers in this study determined the 24-hour changes in gene expression of specific gene families following UVB exposure. After two weeks of topical DNA repair enzymes treatment, the authors also looked at how well damaged skin was restored.

Scientists took samples of the right and left post-auricular areas of the skin of 48 patients previously and 24 hours after UVB exposure using noninvasive, adhesive patch collection kits. After patients applied effective DNA repair enzymes to the right post-auricular area once everyday for 2 weeks, the skin was reconsidered for damage.

Eight of the 18 genes tested underwent significant changes 24 hours after UVB exposure, according to the findings. Vitamin A, mucin, programmed cell death protein, small proline-rich protein, cystatin, and keratinocyte were the gene families with downregulation compared to baseline (P .01 for each). Conversely, interleukin experienced critical upregulation (P < .01).

T4N5 and photolyase, the DNA repair enzymes used in this study, had no effect on the expression of the genes studied. By the by, the creators observed that the skin was normally ready to recuperate from DNA harm throughout the span of 2 weeks with five of the seven qualities tried showing an inversion toward gauge.

However, the authors do not rule out the possibility of requiring additional repairs to fully return to baseline.

“Other gene families that may not fully recover from UVB exposure should be investigated to better understand UV events that lead to skin cancers,” Anderson and colleagues wrote.

The researchers came to the conclusion that UV exposure alters some genes and may play a role in the development of skin cancer. These genes belong to the mucin and cystatin families, which are responsible for squamous cell carcinoma, and the vitamin A family, which is responsible for melanoma.