title: Melatonin's protective effect against UV radiation: a systematic review of clinical and experimental studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main etiologic factor for skin cancer. The endogenous hormone melatonin has been proposed to have protective effects against sunlight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to evaluate melatonin's protective effects against UV radiation and to clarify the cellular mechanisms behind this effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, Embase and Cinahl were searched up to January 2013 to identify studies evaluating melatonin's protective effect against UV radiation (UVR)-induced skin erythema in humans and damage on a cellular level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four human studies have investigated melatonin's protective effect on UVR-induced skin damage. Melatonin was shown to have protective effects when applied before UVR, but no effect if applied after exposure. A total of 16 experimental studies evaluated melatonin's protective effect against UVR-induced damage to cellular structures and pathways.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protection against UVR-induced skin damage was conducted by melatonin acting directly as an antioxidant, and indirectly by regulating gene expression and inducing a DNA stabilizing effect. As these results were obtained using artificial UVR and without investigating possible side effects, studies using natural sunlight and evaluating possible side effects of topical melatonin administration are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Herlev Hospital - University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheuer
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pommergaard
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gögenur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: UV-induced DNA-damage; UV-induced cellular damage; UVR; erythema; melatonin; nonmelanoma skin cancer