Protective effects of tanning on cutaneous DNA damage in situ

Background: The incidence of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the Western world, has been shown to be associated with the degree of expo sure to solar radiation. However, little is known on how human skin can be protected against UV-induced DNA damage by constitutive and induced pigment ation. Objective: To study the effect of skin pigmentation induced by a sun -bed-type of treatment on the formation of UV-induced DNA damage in human s kin in situ, Methods: A photoproduct assay was performed in untanned and ta nned skin of healthy volunteers. Results: There is no significant differenc e in the induction of photoproducts between untanned and tanned skin. Concl usion: Our data demonstrate that constitutive skin pigmentation is more eff icient than the induced one in protection against formation of photoproduct s. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.