Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial
Hughes MC
Published in Annals of Internal Medicine
Methodology
Randomised controlled community-based intervention (ACTRN12610000086066) with four arms combining daily or discretionary broad-spectrum sunscreen with 30 mg beta-carotene or placebo; outcome was change in skin microtopography 1992-1996 graded by blinded assessors.
Key Findings
903 adults under 55 in Nambour, Australia were randomised in a four-arm community trial to daily or discretionary sunscreen and to 30 mg beta-carotene or placebo, with skin microtopography graded blind between 1992 and 1996. The daily sunscreen group showed no detectable increase in skin aging over 4.5 years, and photoaging was 24% less than in the discretionary sunscreen group (relative odds 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.98). Beta-carotene supplementation had no overall effect on skin aging, with only contrasting associations in subgroups defined by baseline severity.
Conclusions
Daily sunscreen slowed skin aging; beta-carotene supplementation had no overall effect.
Limitations
Some outcome data were missing and power to detect moderate treatment effects was modest; participants were a single subtropical Australian community, and the sunscreen comparison was against discretionary use rather than no use.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
Access Study
Disclosures
Funding
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.