Summary
This review explores how melatonin protects skin from UV-induced photoaging through its antioxidant properties, including free radical scavenging, antioxidant enzyme activation, and mitochondrial protection. For lighting and healthcare applications, topical melatonin is recommended over oral administration for localized skin protection, with formulations optimized for bioavailability.
Key Findings
- UV radiation reaching Earth comprises ~95% UVA and ~5% UVB, with chronic exposure driving oxidative damage via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) accumulation
- Melatonin inhibits UV-induced photoaging through multiple mechanisms: free radical binding, upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity, prevention of mitochondrial membrane permeability increases, and improvement of mitochondrial electron transport efficiency
- Topical administration of melatonin is preferred over oral routes for localized skin photoprotection due to better bioavailability at the site of UV exposure
- The review covered publications from 2019–2023 across Google Scholar and PubMed, synthesizing evidence that the melatoninergic antioxidant system plays a key protective role against UV-induced premature skin aging
Categories
Eye Health & Vision: Discusses UV radiation-induced oxidative damage relevant to photoreceptor and skin cell protection mechanisms.
The Science of Light: Examines melatonin's photobiological role in responding to UV radiation exposure and its antioxidant mechanisms.
Author(s)
MVP Suyanto, IGA Widianti
Publication Year
2023
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