{"id":6275,"date":"2023-12-14T06:04:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T06:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=6275"},"modified":"2023-12-14T06:04:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T06:04:56","slug":"the-perfect-ally-to-protect-skin-from-sun-and-chemical-burns-comes-in-the-form-of-a-super-melanin-cream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/the-perfect-ally-to-protect-skin-from-sun-and-chemical-burns-comes-in-the-form-of-a-super-melanin-cream\/","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Ally To Protect Skin From Sun And Chemical Burns Comes In The Form Of A Super Melanin Cream"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Atlas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Northwestern University scientists have developed an innovative ‘super melanin’ skin cream that boasts the remarkable ability to continuously repair sun damage and chemical burns. This synthetic melanin, designed to mimic the natural melanin found in human skin, can be topically applied to injured skin, expediting the healing process both locally and systemically within the body.<\/p>\n

In a recent publication in Nature Regenerative Medicine<\/a>, researchers demonstrated that the biomimetic melanin cream, when incorporated into a topical application, serves as a shield against sun exposure while actively promoting the recovery of skin damaged by sun exposure or chemical burns. The mechanism behind this breakthrough involves the synthetic melanin scavenging free radicals, which are generated in response to skin injuries, such as sunburns. By neutralizing these free radicals, the cream prevents cellular damage that could otherwise lead to skin aging and potentially skin cancer.<\/p>\n

In humans and animals, melanin provides pigmentation to the skin, eyes, and hair. Traditionally known for its role in skin darkening during sun exposure, melanin also plays a vital role in shielding cells from sun damage. This pigment, when naturally induced during sun exposure, not only provides a tan but also acts as a defense mechanism by scavenging free radicals triggered by environmental pollutants like industrial smokestack emissions and car exhaust fumes. The synthetic melanin in this innovative cream effectively harnesses these protective qualities, offering a groundbreaking solution for continuous skin healing and defense against daily environmental stressors.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t think of their everyday life as an injury to their skin,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>said Dr. Kurt Lu<\/a>, the co-corresponding author who also teaches dermatology and practices at Northwestern University School of Medicine. \u201cIf you walk barefaced every day in the sun, you suffer a low-grade, constant bombardment of ultraviolet light. This is worsened during peak mid-day hours and the summer season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skin, shielded from aging by clothing, remains impervious to the passage of time; however, it inevitably undergoes aging processes influenced by both internal factors, such as getting older, and external environmental elements, such as air pollution.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAll those insults to the skin lead to free radicals which cause inflammation and break down the collagen,\u201d Lu said. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the reasons older skin looks very different from younger skin.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The scientists enhanced the free-radical scavenging capacity of synthetic melanin engineered nanoparticles by modifying the melanin structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe synthetic melanin is capable of scavenging more radicals per gram compared to human melanin,\u201d said Nathan Gianneschi, another co-corresponding author and a professor of chemistry and pharmacology at Northwestern. \u201cIt\u2019s like super melanin. It\u2019s biocompatible, degradable, nontoxic and clear when rubbed onto the skin. In our studies, it acts as an efficient sponge, removing damaging factors and protecting the skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

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When applied to the skin, melanin remains on the surface and does not penetrate into the underlying layers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe synthetic melanin stabilizes and sets the skin on a healing pathway, which we see in both the top layers and throughout the body,\u201d Gianneschi said.<\/p>\n

After dedicating nearly a decade to the study of melanin, the scientists conducted their initial experiment with synthetic melanin, using it as a sunscreen, and achieved success.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext, we wondered if the synthetic melanin, which functions primarily to soak up radicals, could be applied topically after a skin injury and have a healing effect on the skin?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Gianneschi said. \u201cIt turns out to work exactly that way.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are protecting the skin and repairing it simultaneously,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Lu said. It\u2019s continuous repairing process is shown in the team\u2019s video\u2026<\/p>\n