What could a summer day be like without the worry of sunburn or UV radiation damage? A dream, you will tell me: sunbathing without risks, you will understand. Well: it could become a reality thanks to Northwestern University. Researchers have developed a synthetic melanin that not only protects the skin, but also accelerates its healing process.
Melanin, as many of you know, is the pigment responsible for the color of the skin, hair and eyes. It has a protective function against damage from ultraviolet radiation. The one I'm telling you about, however, is not the natural one that we all know: it is an enhanced synthetic version, the result of years of research and experimentation.
The discovery
The team of researchers from Northwestern University published the results of their study in the journal npj Regenerative Medicine (I link them to you here), revealing the incredible properties of this super melanin. In tests conducted on both donated human skin samples and mice, synthetic melanin was shown to reduce, if not prevent, damage caused by UV radiation.
How does “super melanin” work?
The answer lies in the ability of this melanin to absorb harmful free radicals generated in the skin by chemicals and UV radiation. This process reduces inflammation and accelerates healing in damaged areas of the skin.
Another fundamental aspect of this discovery is the similarity of super melanin to natural melanin. This means it is biodegradable and non-toxic to the skin. In tests conducted so far, it does not appear to be absorbed by the body when applied, thus reducing many potential health risks.
Future perspectives
Of course, although the results are extraordinarily promising, it will still take some time before this synthetic melanin becomes a medical treatment available to everyone.
The researchers are currently conducting further research on animals to further confirm the safety of the solution. If all goes according to plan and future human trials are also successful, the melanin treatment could move into the large-scale production phase and distribution to the public.
It will give us a future in which sunburn will be a distant memory: the sun will have to find another way to burn our holidays.
