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Researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have, now, made a new claim about sunburn.
The study revealed that RNA damage was the real trigger behind acute sunburn.
Direct exposure to the sun often makes our skin tan or it can even result in redness. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation may lead to a red skin reaction which is known as sunburn. From using sunscreen to deliberately not exposing your body to UV radiation, people have come up with various methods to avoid sunburn. There have been plenty of discussions and talks about the negative impact of sunburn. Researchers, at the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), have now made a new claim about sunburn. As per the conventional and existing perception, DNA damage causes inflammation and subsequent cell death in case of a sunburn. But the latest study, involving mice and human skin cells, has revealed something startling.
“Sunburn damages the DNA, leading to cell death and inflammation. So the textbooks say. But in this study we were surprised to learn that this is a result of damage to the RNA, not the DNA that causes the acute effects of sunburn,” said Anna Constance Vind, assistant professor from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen, as per The Times of India.
“DNA damage is serious as the mutations will get passed down to progenies of the cells, RNA damage happens all the time and does not cause permanent mutations. Therefore, we used to believe that the RNA is less important, as long as the DNA is intact. But in fact, damages to the RNA are the first to trigger a response to UV radiation,” Anna Constance Vind added.
Sunburn is known to create inflammation, swelling and redness and it also has common symptoms, including the likes of blistering, swelling, rash and peeling skin. When exposed to UV rays for a long period of time, the situation becomes troublesome causing the upper layer of skin to become red and hot.
Apart from this, excessive sweating can also result in discomfort and itchy marks on the skin. At times, there can be extreme reactions, known as sun poisoning, which include fever, chills, nausea and rash. Using sunscreen, moisturizer, and in some cases, mild steroid application can play a key role in tackling sunburn.
