Sunscreen Slows Signs of Aging
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Are you still on the fence about whether or not to use sunscreen? Cancer prevention is not the only benefit. A recent scientific study has substantiated the long-held belief that regular sunscreen use slows aging. The study, conducted in Australia and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was the first performed on humans. Previous studies comparing sun exposure and potential skin damage had been performed on hairless mice.
The study of over 900 adults over four and one-half years found that those assigned to apply sunscreen at least once a day saw 24% less skin aging than those left to follow any sunscreen habits they liked. Researchers who looked for wrinkles and other texture changes on molds made from the skin of the regular sunscreen users saw no significant changes. They gave them, on average, the same grade, on a 0-6 scale, at the end of the study as at the beginning.
A score of 0 means no photo-aging at all. A person with a score of 6 has severely aged skin, with no elasticity and deep lines. Every point on the scale represents coarser skin and increased wrinkling on the hand, the face, or wherever the skin is being assessed. On the face, each point is also associated with a greater number of visible small blood vessels. At the start of the study, the median score in both groups of subjects was 4, which means they had moderate photo-aging. At the end, those assigned to daily sunscreen use still had a median score of 4, but those in the control group had a median of 5.
The researchers hope that the results of this study will convince more people to use sunscreen because of its cosmetic benefits.
If you are interested in learning more about sun exposure and your risk of skin cancer and aging, the dermatologists at Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists would be happy to meet with you. Contact one of their offices in New York, New Jersey or Boca Raton, Florida for an appointment.