EM doctor's autumn concerns: photoaging

Signs of premature aging of the skin

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Sunlight is very important for us: infrared rays accelerate biochemical reactions, enzymatic and immunological processes, as a result of which brain excitation, pituitary secretion increases, and ultraviolet rays participate in the synthesis of vitamin D and calcium metabolism. But the same sunlight is the "culprit" of premature aging of the skin.

The attitude of an educated person to UV radiation has changed dramatically in the last decade. Even 10-15 years ago, most mothers sought to expose their children's bodies to bright sunlight at the first opportunity, and smeared swollen and reddened shoulders and noses with kefir and sour cream, considering it an inevitable tribute to tanning. Today it is already known for sure that ultraviolet radiation can be not only useful, but also extremely dangerous.

Dermatologists and cosmetologists called this phenomenon photoaging. It is believed that ultraviolet rays initiate degenerative processes in the skin (inflammation, DNA damage of epidermal cells and induction of carcinogenesis). Moreover, rays of different wavelengths affect "their" layer of the skin: the shorter the UV wavelength, the stronger its pathogenic effect.

Full version of the access article in Ukrainian

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