The sun may feel nice against your skin, but it's also one of your skin's biggest enemies--its UVA and UVB rays damage cells and can lead to burns, wrinkles, and skin cancer. But recently sunblock, generally considered a safe way to avoid sun damage, has been called into question for its own harmful properties. Vitamin A and Parabens, in particular, were named by the Environmental Working Group as worrisome ingredients in popular sunscreens.
A few weeks ago, as part of our "Skin You're In" series, we reported on natural sunscreens and gave you a rundown on the sunscreen debate. Now, research has revealed a new possibility in natural sun protection—bacteria. Cyanobacteria, to be precise, which has spent billions of years evolving to thrive in the sun's harsh UV rays. Scientists (not to mention cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies) are hoping to harness the sun-fighting power of the bacteria and use it to as a natural way to prevent sun damage. Keep reading for details about the science behind the discovery and its potential implications to your skin care routine.
Cyanobacteria may sound scary, but it's crucial to life on Earth. According to experts at University of California Berkeley, cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) has been around for over 3.5 billion years, and we couldn't exist without it: "The oxygen atmosphere that we depend on was generated by numerous cyanobacteria during the Archaean and Proterozoic Eras. Before that time, the atmosphere had a very different chemistry, unsuitable for life as we know it today."
Part of what enabled cyanobacteria to develop in such harsh conditions was its ability to combat the sun's damaging UV rays.
Rebecca Boyle of Popular Science magazine explains, "Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, manufacture special sunscreen molecules called mycosporines and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The compounds protect the bacteria by absorbing ultraviolet light."
Recently, scientists at Harvard University identified the genes responsible for creating these so-called "sunscreen molecules" and recognized their importance to skin care. The study's authors, Emily Balskus and Christopher Walsh, wrote in Science magazine, "Ultraviolet UV-A and UV-B radiation are harmful to living systems, causing damage to biological macromolecules. An important strategy for dealing with UV exposure is the biosynthesis of small-molecule sunscreens."
Balskus and Walsh were able to promote this biosynthesis and create sunscreen molecules in everyday E. coli bacteria. Boyle explains, "When [Balskus and Walsh] turned on the gene cluster in E. coli bacteria, the E. coli made the sunscreens." This discovery could have huge implications for sun protection—your skin is naturally covered in bacteria, so just imagine if you could turn that bacteria into UV-fighting dynamos.
Research into bio-sunscreens could eventually mean superior sun protection and skin cancer prevention. Though we fight sun damage today with sunscreen, these lotions are far from perfect:
"Typical sunscreen lotions are made from compounds that both absorb and reflect UV light, preventing it from reaching your skin. But they don't block all types of UV radiation," Boyle warns. "A study this spring by the Environmental Working Group even suggested sunscreens can cause skin cancer, because they contain a vitamin A compound that causes skin damage. A natural biological compound that absorbs UV light would be a major step forward in skin protection."
At least one product, Helioguard 365, is already using MAA molecules to protect skin against sun damage and aging. Mi Belle Biochemistry calls MAAs "the most powerful UV-absorbing substances in nature" and says Helioguard 365 "is a natural and safe UV-screening compound."
While the research into bio-sunscreen is relatively new, it has exciting implications for the future of skin care. In the meantime, remember that you should always protect your skin from the sun. You may have concerns about the chemicals in sunscreens, but they are still preferable to a burn and lasting skin damage. Be sun smart, get informed, and stay tuned for the latest in skin care news.
About Our Savvy Advisor: Jessica Hanley
Jessica Hanley is a writer living in California. She loves to be outside, has no patience for expensive skin care regimens, and always wears sunscreen.