Topical SeMet was shown to be effective in protecting against acute and chronic UV damage to the skin. Concentrations as low as 0.02% increased the MED in humans (106) and decreased acute erythema and blistering as well as later UV-induced tanning and skin cancer in Skh:2 mice (105).
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Figure 6 Correction of periorbital wrinkles after four months of once-daily treatment with 0.05% L-selenomethioinine lotion. |
Furthermore, topical SeMet is highly effective not only in preventing but also in reversing the appearance of photoaging. As shown clinically in Figure 6, periorbital rhytides are decreased significantly in a 56-year-old woman after four months of once – daily application of SeMet (0.05%) cream.
This enhancement of repair of chronic photoaging at the cellular and molecular level was confirmed by histologic and electron microsopic analysis in mice (107). UV-induced hyperkeratosis and epithelial hyperplasia markedly decreased; irregular, damaged collagen was replaced with newly synthesized, fine fibrillar homogeneous collagen; solar elastosis was repaired; and UV-induced infammation resolved—all as (or more) effectively as comparable treatment with topical tretinoin (107). Electron microscopy confirmed repair of dermal collagen and basement membrane anchoring fibrils.