Skin ageing caused by sun damage could be the result of only certain UV wavelengths, report chemists in Germany

Jean Krutmann at Heinrich Heine University and colleagues studied a series of UV filters, shining UVA1 light (340-400 nm) through the filters onto cells beneath. They found that the filters that absorbed at longer wavelengths (>360 nm) were better at preventing the expression of proteins associated with skin ageing.

UVA1 from sunlight is thought to cause skin wrinkling, but it was not known whether particular wavelengths were responsible, said Krutmann. These findings could be applied to develop UV filters and protect skin against particular photochemical reactions, he said.

David J Parker