Skin photodamage prevention: State of the art and new prospects

Abstract

Human skin aging is caused by a number of factors. One of the most important and influential factors is the exposure of the skin to UV radiation, which leads to the damage of the skin's structure and integrity. UV radiation is responsible for up to ninety percent of visible skin aging. However, the effects of the sunlight on the skin include not only dryness, loss of elasticity, wrinkles, discoloration and changes in texture, but also increased incidence in various precancerous conditions and skin malignancies. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.