Redness, pain, and burns after unreasonably long exposure to solar radiation can be consigned to history when scientists recently discovered molecule in the composition of the skin, which is responsible for these reactions.
Blocking molecule TRPV4, which is abundant in the epidermis proven protects skin from harmful effects of the sun.
According to team leader Professor Wolfgang Liedtke, neurobiologist at the Medical University of North Carolina, their discovery enables the introduction of new products, which offer much greater protection for the skin.
Most skin burns were induced by ultraviolet radiation type B or UVB, which are useful in small amounts and facilitate the synthesis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as well as reducing the risk of many infectious diseases, because of the sterilizing effect.
However, too long exposure to UVB - over 30 minutes a day, cause DNA damage in skin cells, which dramatically increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
In the laboratory, scientists were able to completely block TRPV4 molecule in skin tissue through genetic engineering application. After irradiation normal and genetically modified skin with UVB rays with the same intensity and duration, the researchers reported excellent results: normal skin demonstrated redness, swelling and blisters normal for a typical sunburn while special skin devoid of TRPV4 was only slightly irritated.
Scientists already tested with great success and an ointment that is applied to the already burnt skin and removes the pain completely.
If their development be released will allow spend many more hours in the sun without leading to a risk of burns or skin cancer. Researchers note that the extended stay in the sun is beneficial not only for the synthesis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, but also to lower the blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease.