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‘Super Melanin’ Heals Skin Injuries from Sunburn, Chemical Burns

'Super melanin' heals skin injuries from sunburn, chemical burns
The synthetic melanin is being applied to inflamed skin. Just under the surface of the skin are green free radicals, also known as ROS, or “reactive oxygen species.” Credit: Yu Chen, Northwestern University

Imagine a skin cream that heals damage occurring throughout the day when your skin is exposed to sunlight or environmental toxins. That’s the potential of a synthetic, biomimetic melanin developed by scientists at Northwestern University.

In a new study, the scientists show that their synthetic melanin, mimicking the natural melanin in human skin, can be applied topically to injured skin, where it accelerates wound healing. These effects occur both in the skin itself and systemically in the body.

When applied in a cream, the synthetic melanin can protect skin from sun exposure...

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