Compiled & Medically reviewed by
Dr.Sanjana.V.B. Bhms. Dbrm.Cdn

Natural Antioxidants to manage sun damage to skin

     Sunlight is definitely a vital source of energy to sustain life on earth. In human being it is very essential for vitamin D formation. However, excessive exposure to sun causes many harmful effects on the skin. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is one of the major environmental factors damaging your skin.

 This  impact of sun on skin is called photo-aging, that is, sun induced damage and inflammation to your skin causing dryness, fine lines , wrinkles and premature ageing . Excessive exposure to UV rays cause skin cancer also.

Skin changes from sun damage:

·       Wrinkles

·       Age spots or pigmentation

·       Loose  sagging skin

·       Spider veins

·       Blotchy or ruddy complexion

As the damage increases, deep lines or dry, scaly patches called actinic keratoses (AKs) develops.

Sunlight  and skin cancer

 The sunlight UV rays [ UVR ], have various wavelengths. UVA (320-340 nm) constitutes the large majority [90%] of solar UV radiation.UVB (295–320 nm) makes up only 5–10% of atmospheric UVR.

UV B  rays have been implicated in a variety of skin diseases, non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers [1].

UVA rays can penetrate much deeper into the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. But it is less potent than UVB (290-320 nm) rays  in causing damage to DNA.  UVB rays are more harmful to the skin than UVA as they are capable of causing severe DNA damage.

However, UV A rays play a significant role by producing ‘bipyrimidine photoproducts’ that have genotoxic effects to produce DNA damage and skin cancer [3].

That means, it can be concluded that both UVA and UVB rays of sun can cause skin cancers.

Photo ageing 

UVB rays have indirect , but detrimental effects on the skin's immune system, oxidative stress responses, and photo aging.

Chronic and excessive UVR exposure cause damage to the defense mechanisms of the skin. Therefore, compounds with antioxidant and cell repair potential are the one of the most important solutions for preventing and managing sun induced damage on your skin.

Everybody wants to get healthy glowing youthful skin. But sun damage is a major factor which increase the pace of skin ageing and  make appearance of wrinkles.

We can use sunscreen to protect from the harmful rays of sun. However, the compliance with its usage is not high among people .For many people it is not easy to use sunscreen every two hours to get protection from UV rays of sun. So the need for an alternative and practical solution to repair the skin is very relevant in this circumstances.

Interventions for sun induced skin damage

Treatments for sun damage vary. They range from daily use topical creams and gels to chemical and mechanical skin peels and laser treatments.

Topical applications used are :

·       Retinoids

·       Vitamin C and other antioxidants

·       Exfoliants

·       Lightening agents

These treatments as creams, gels and other forms of topical application can temporarily fade uneven pigment, smooth roughened or wrinkled skin, shrink pores and even restart collagen production on your skin.

Naturally repair your skin from sun damage 

·       Apply topically natural Antioxidants – Vitamin, A, C, E rich natural antioxidant application helps to recover from sun induced skin damage, if followed regularly.

·        Antioxidant-Rich Food consumption 

 It is important for the skin to be nourished inside out.

Eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts &seeds  which are  excellent sources of natural antioxidants that may repair your skin from within.

The antioxidants include  carotenoids ,vitamins A, C, E, minerals, phytochemicals etc.

They are free radical scavengers  which counteract the oxidative stress to the skin caused by sun damage.  A few antioxidants such as vitamin C may boost collagen formation enhancing skin health.

A few anti-ageing& antioxidant rich foods are:

Broccoli

Pomegranate

Berries

Green tea

Citrus fruits

Spinach

Tomato

How does green tea help against sun induced damage to your skin?

Green tea is made from leaves of Camellia sinensis.

 Topical application of green tea on skin provides significantly greater benefit against UVB irradiation-induced skin damage.

UVB rays of sun causes depletion of antioxidant enzymes and signaling protein phosphorylation with in the cells. As per the study topical application of green tea is very effective against sun induced skin damage [4].

Human and animal studies using both topical and oral preparations of green tea polyphenols [GTPPs] have shown significant protective effects against UV-induced skin damage and immunosuppression.

Studies show that in adult human subjects who consumed 7.5 mg of green tea brewed in 540 mL of boiling water, there was a significant decrease in UV rays of sun induced DNA damage of peripheral white blood cells [5 ].

    Oral intake of green tea is a potent dietary source of antioxidant polyphenols. These compounds may be able to provide additional protection to the body to help prevent the harmful effects of ultraviolet A and visible radiation.

The damage by UV rays to  the skin is produced indirectly via reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the sunlight exposed skin. Polyphenol antioxidants  of green tea may repair it by scavenging the free radicals. Green tea  is an important dietary source of plant polyphenols.

Majority of the green tea polyphenols (GTPPs) are monomeric flavanols called catechins.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate [EGCG] is the most abundant and extensively studied catechin with potent therapeutic effects in skin.

Green tea polyphenols (GTPP)  may prevent skin cancer, as their use have shown promising results. Chronic exposure to UV Rays of sun is the key factor in causing skin cancer. UVB radiation induces multiple effects on the immune system, causes oxidative stress, and damages DNA, leading to skin cancers.

EGCG catechins of green tea has been shown to inhibit tumor invasion and angiogenesis[ blood vessel formation by tumor] thereby preventing tumor growth and metastasis to remote areas of the body.

Regular use of polyphenols both topically and orally may give effective protection against UV radiation and ultimately skin cancer. 

It can protect the body by suppressing, slowing down, and reversing the process of cancer development, as well as protecting the skin from damaging radiation caused by harmful UVB rays.

Include  1-2 cups of green tea in your diet as a morning drink  for better health and apply the green tea liquid on your skin regularly to get refreshed, healthy young looking skin .It is not equivalent to sunscreen,  instead it can repair your skin after sun exposure.

FOR FURTHER READING ABOUT GREEN TEA

Green tea & green tea preparation [ Read more]

1.    References

1.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21061269/

2.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390139/

3.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12885257/

4.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12771038/

5.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19898857/

6.    https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sun-damage-skin/wrinkles-sun-damage-can-be-treated

7.    https://www.scripps.org/news_items/4349-how-to-reverse-sun-damaged-skin