Ultraviolet A irradiation and photoaging of the mouse skin

Introduction: Solar or artificial UVA radiation play a major role in photoaging of the skin. Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the presence of morphological changes in the dermis of mouse skin exposed to UVA radiation, with or without the usage of photoprotective cream. Methods: This experiment involved the exposure of female BALBc mice, to solarium UVA lamps. The animals were divided into 2 experimental and 2 control groups. Before the radiation exposure, the hair on the backs of the experimental animals and one kontrol group was removed by shaving 3 times a week, and a half an hour before the exposure a broad spectrum photoprotective cream (UVA filter and SPF 50) was applied on half of the experimental animals. The animals were exposed to radiation 5 times a week, 2 hours a day (the dosage of 156 J/ cm2), for 16 weeks, up to a total radiation of 12500 J/cm2. Results: The presence of impaired collagen fibril network was the most pronounced in the experimental group of animals exposed to radiation without the usage of photoprotective cream (p<0.001). The presence of normal collagen fibril network was observed in the both control groups (p<0.001). The presence of incipient solar elastosis was observed in the experimental group of animals exposed to radiation without the usage of photoprotective cream. Conclusions: The results showed that the usage of a photoprotective cream provided an efficient protection against the effects of UVA radiation and dermal photoaging.