"Morning After" Lotion to Repair Sun-Damaged Skin

Two weeks ago my 14 year old son Ethan attended a five day surf camp and unfortunately came home with a nasty sun burn from the waist up. It was extremely painful, affected his sleep and his skin blistered and peeled. He has fair skin like me and all I could think about was the risk of skin cancer because I just went through it. I felt helpless though treated him with what I knew to do such as aloe vera lotion, aveeno baths, vitamin C and topical antibiotic cream for those few spots with deeper damage. He is feeling fine today but I cringe at the long term damage that may have occurred.

Yesterday I came across some very hopeful research being done by Olaf Wiest who is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Notre Dame. He and his team are working to develop a "morning after" lotion to repair sun-damaged skin before it turns cancerous. For some time it's been known that excessive ultraviolet light can alter skin cell DNA. Molecules called thymine dimers, which have been implicated in skin cancer, are formed in DNA when exposed to UV light. However, Wiest and his colleagues have been able to synthesize a certain molecule that attaches to these dimers, chemically breaking them down and thus repairing DNA damage. The Wiest lab's molecule (a synthesized artificial enzyme) mimics the action of photoyase, a naturally occurring enzyme in algae and certain other organisms that repair light-induced DNA damage. In addition to the "repair molecule,' the Wiest research group also has discovered a new, easier way to detect the repair happening. During the process, certain molecules rotate or flip to the outside of the DNA helix. Recently Wiest and his colleague, Lauren O'Neil, synthesized a novel molecule that binds to the so-called "flipped out" base and then signals its presence by emitting light energy, which can be detected by ultra-sensitive sensors.

Each year some 1.3 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States. The best prevention is to stay out of the sun, cover up or use sunscreen. Wiest predicts that the "morning after" sun-damaged skin repair lotion will not be on store shelves for 10 years. A product much needed and well worth the long wait for.