Everyone wants to look tanned for
the summer but we’re all afraid of harmful UV rays. Skin cancer is one of the
most prevalent cancers in North America so we do our best to prevent it by
lathering on the sunscreen and staying out of the sun but this leaves us pale
and pasty during shorts and T-shirt season! What are we to do?? Yes, there are
spray tans and moisturizers that gradually tan your skin but most of these products
make your skin look more orange than a nice bronze color and they can stain
your sheets and clothes.
What if you could have a bronze
glow without the damaging effects of UV rays or dyeing your skin? Well thanks
to Dr. David E. Fisher and his team of scientists, you may be able to in the
near future! They found that inhibiting enzymes called SIKs (salt-inducible
kinases) activated the pigmentation pathway in the same way as UV radiation
would but without the DNA-damaging effects. They went on to develop a superior
version of this inhibitor so that it can be better absorbed by human skin. It
takes 1-2 days for the skin to “tan” and it lasts a few days.
In the future, the team will be
conducting toxicity studies, and then they hope to move onto clinical trials.
Ultimately, they strive to develop a compound that can be added to sunscreenJ
and be used regularly; tanning and skin protection all in one! If it turns out
to be safe I’m definitely going to try it
-
Mena
References:
- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317908.php
- http://www.celiknutrisi.my/2015/05/25/3-langkah-cerahkan-kulit-secara-semulajadi-dan-selamat/
- https://scienceblog.com/494576/new-gel-provides-tan-without-uv-light/
