Interesting news from CBCN last week! According to the article located here, researchers led by David Granville were looking into something else entirely when they noticed that mice in one of their experimental groups had unusually healthy skin.
The experiment was arranged to test how a new enzyme affected mice that were exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. It was hoped that the enzyme would better protect the health of the mice, but in a surprising twist, the scientists found that the enzyme also dramatically reduced wrinkles and other signs of aging in the mice.
The Dangers of the Sun
David Granville and his researches had a very good reason for targeting the sun for further research. The sun is one of the most significant causes behind the aging of skin. The sun is a suspected culprit behind many of the disorders we treat here at the clinic.
It’s hard to find a good balance between a healthy amount of sun exposure and a dangerous amount. That’s why treatments that can protect skin from the cumulative damage of the sun are so exciting. These treatments have the potential to manage a huge range of skin problems.
When Will It Be Available?
For the time being, the development of the drug is focused on the treatment of Lupus. As the article notes, sufferers of Lupus are particularly susceptible to severe scarring from the sun. It’s hoped that this treatment will reduce the formation of these scars by making the skin more resistant.
After that research is complete, researches say in the article that other treatment options will be explored. So while you may not be able to try it tomorrow, know that it’s joining many other developing treatments on the horizon.