Though sunscreen protects us from the sun, it doesn’t protect us from toxic effects on humans and marine animals. A new study, however, suggests that a compound derived from squid and octopus skin could make sunscreen safer and more effective.
Chromophores are colored molecules that give cephalopods their changing colors by absorbing certain wavelengths of light and emitting others. Xanthommatin is a chromophore found in the skin of cephalopods and some arthropods.
The question is: could this same ability to absorb light be harnessed in sunscreen? Sunscreens absorb harmful UV light from the sun using different active compounds. Leila Deravi and colleagues propose supplementing zinc oxide sunscreen with a synthetic version of Xanthommatin, which means the same effect could be achieved without harvesting the molecule from octopuses.
When we wear chemical sunscreens and go swimming, sunscreen compounds from industrial discharge wash into the sea, harming marine life through issues such as coral bleaching and impaired sea urchin development.
Researchers tested the safety of Xanthommatin for coral fragments and found no polyp retraction or fragment bleaching, even at high dosages. Deravi said in a statement that some sunscreens “are known to create reactive oxygen species that are not only bad for the environment but can also seep into our skin and cause systemic toxicities.”
According to the new study, Xanthommatin does not irritate or contact allergy upon repeated exposure. Though Xanthommatin doesn’t significantly absorb UV light on its own, it improves the absorption of UVA and visible wavelengths of light.
This is particularly beneficial because UVA wavelengths penetrate deeply into the skin and are associated with photoaging. Most sunscreens are only equipped to protect against UVB rays that penetrate the skin’s upper layers and cause sunburn.
The new study, published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, is an example of how nature can be harnessed to create safer products for both humans and the environment.
