JÚLIA COMAS*, OLGA LAPORTA, ELENA CAÑADAS, ALBERT SOLEY, RAQUEL DELGADO
*Corresponding author
Lipotec S.A.U., Gava, Spain

Abstract

Solar light and artificial blue light coming from electronic devices are the main triggering factors of the evident appearance of wrinkles and dark spots on the skin. A biotechnological ingredient has been developed to not only protect and repair the skin from different light radiations but also to prepare it for light exposure. The ingredient showed to activate epidermal photoreceptors, the opsins, which could help the skin act as a sensory system for light, so an adaptive response can be triggered, and the drawbacks associated with the digital and photoaging processes minimized.

FROM PHOTOAGING TO DIGITAL AGING

Beyond UV, there is an increasing concern about other types of light emitted by the sun, such as infrared and blue light, which penetrate deeper into the skin and similarly lead to aging (1). Blue light can also be commonly found indoors, since electronic devices, such as computers, TVs and smartphones emit it artificially. However, the skin can minimize photodamage thanks to its ability to detect light and adapt to it (2). But how does the skin detect light? 

The human eye contains photoreceptor opsins, which play a key role in the visual transduction cascade by sensing light. Nevertheless, light perception is not only the base of vision, but several opsins have also been detected in the skin, being considered as epidermal photosensors (3). In particular, opsin 2 is one of the most abundant opsins found in the epidermis (4). These opsins could help the skin act as a sensory system for light, helping alert the skin so an adaptive response can be triggered. An adaptive response consists in a previous exposure to a minimal stress that results in an increased resistance to future hig ...