Australian Researchers Reveal Sunscreen’s Anti Aging Benefits

June 28, 2013 - By Dr. Jules Feledy

Daily Sunscreen Use Keeps Your Skin Looking Young

In a study published this month, Dr. Adele Green and her colleagues at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research shared documentation on the anti-aging benefits of sunscreen. Their research is some of the strongest evidence ever presented on the effectiveness of daily sun protection.

The researchers looked at previous studies of 903 people under age 55. During a 4-year period, some subjects used sunscreen daily, while others could apply sunscreen whenever they deemed that it was necessary.

At the end of the study, the researchers evaluated photos of each subject’s hands, looking for changes in skin pigmentation, wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Results were favorable for the subjects who applied sunscreen daily. They showed no detectable signs of aging on their hands (other factors related to sun exposure were taken into account).

As a whole, they were 24 percent less likely than the other group to exhibit new signs of photo aging. This was true for both young and middle aged patients.

The results show that sunscreen not only helps protect against skin cancer, it has true cosmetic benefits. The study was funded by the Australian Government and you can find it in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Other sources for this story include Reuters and the Associated Press.