Photoaging is what happens when UV rays quietly speed up your skin’s aging clock. Over time, they break down collagen, weaken elasticity, and damage DNA—so as wrinkles and sunspots appear, your skin has already been aging in fast-forward for years.

UV rays accelerate melanin production, leading to dark spots on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands, and shoulders. Chronic sun exposure creates irregular pigmentation patterns with areas of both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.

Studies show that UV radiation compromises the skin's critical barrier function by affecting intercellular lipids and cellular cohesion. This creates a "double threat" by both increasing damage while simultaneously reducing the skin's natural resistance.

• UV and Skin Barrier Function
• UV and Skin Photoaging
• MMPs on Skin Photoaging
• Photoprotection for Skin

As illustrated in the simplified schematic, UVC rays (100-280 nm) are blocked by the Earth’s ozone layer. Approximately 5-10% of UVB rays (280-315 nm) cross the ozone layer and penetrate the epidermis (top layer of skin), leading to either direct or indirect DNA damage and increasing oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Nearly 95% of UVA rays (315-400 nm) pass the ozone layer and reach the skin, penetrating to the dermis (middle layer of skin). This causes several harmful effects on skin, mainly through oxidative stress caused by ROS. Increased ROS also leads to increases in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induced by nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and activation protein-1 (AP-1), both of which are transcription factors for pro-inflammatory cytokines. Skin inflammation also occurs through TNF-α and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including IL-1β and IL-8). 

UV exposure triggers two interconnected damage pathways in skin: oxidative stress and inflammation. UV radiation generates excess ROS, creating oxidative imbalance that damages cells, degrades collagen, and causes DNA damage. Simultaneously, UV triggers inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells, creating localized inflammation that can lead to chronic “inflammaging”. 

These parallel processes accelerate skin aging and increase disease susceptibility by weakening cellular structures and impairing natural repair mechanisms.

Our Sirenas Complex targets both pathways. It neutralizes UV-associated ROS, minimizing oxidative damage to cells and DNA. The complex also modulates inflammatory pathways, significantly reducing key markers including IL-1β and IL-8. By rebalancing both oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, our Sirenas Complex helps skin maintain its natural defenses, promotes cellular recovery, and prevents the accumulation of damage that leads to premature aging.

This multi-targeted approach ensures comprehensive protection and recovery by addressing the root causes of UV-induced skin damage to promote skin health and longevity.