In July 2012, BBC2 Horizon broadcasted a documentary called ‘The Truth About Looking Young’.1 It was presented by consultant plastic surgeon, Dr Rozina Ali,2 and the aim of the programme was to investigate some of the key developments in anti-ageing research and discuss how certain advances are changing the way we think about skin ageing.
This article explores some of the key points that were discussed in the programme. Overall considering the programme was designed and pitched for public consumption, it was very well delivered and communicated points in a way that interested everyone from those with little or no knowledge of anti-ageing pathways through to those of us with knowledge in this area. The two key subjects that caught the eye from the programme were the powerful attributes of natural UV filters ‘mycosporinelike amino acids’ and research into cell-tocell communication through ‘glycobiology’.
Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) – the future of sun protection in a pill?
Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are small secondary metabolites that are produced by organisms living in environments that are exposed to high volumes of UV light, usually marine environments. At present there are around 30 identified MAAs.3 Coral, some algae species and certain cyanobacteria in particular have been found to be rich in MAAs.
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