A recent study shows that Methylene Blue can have potential UV protection for skin and coral reef health. Methylene Blue is a century-old medicine, a laboratory dye, and recently shown as a premier antioxidant that combats ROS-induced cellular aging in human skin.
The researchers compared Methylene Blue with Oxybenzone, which is the most commonly used chemical active ingredient in sunscreens but has recently proven to be hazardous to aquatic ecosystems. They found that Methylene Blue showed more effective UVB absorption ability than Oxybenzone and significantly outperformed Oxybenzone in the prevention of UVB-induced DNA damage and the clearance of UVA-induced cellular ROS. Furthermore, unlike Oxybenzone, Methylene Blue-containing seawater did not affect the growth of the coral species.
The study also suggests that Methylene Blue can work synergistically with other skincare antioxidants such as Vitamin C to deliver amazing anti-aging effects, particularly in skin cells from older donors. Methylene Blue not only absorbs UVA and UVB as the traditional sunscreen actives do, but it also helps repair the DNA damage caused by UV irradiation, leading to overall better cell survival.
Methylene Blue is a promising candidate for a new sunscreen ingredient that can provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB, as well as being environmentally friendly and coral reef-safe. However, more studies are needed to evaluate its safety and efficacy in humans before it can be widely used in sunscreen products.
Tags: Sunscreen