Hydrogen Gas Prevents Sun Damage and Skin Aging in Mice Study
- Authors
- Takeshi Kiyoi, Shuang Liu, Erika Takemasa, Naohito Hato, Masaki Mogi
- Journal
- Geriatrics & Gerontology International
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1111/ggi.14562
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Photoaging
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas intermittently can help protect against skin aging and damage caused by ultraviolet light.
Key Finding
Intermittent exposure to hydrogen gas at night prevented UV-induced skin aging in mice, including reduced skin thickening, collagen damage, and DNA damage compared to mice exposed to UV without hydrogen.
Summary
Researchers exposed mice to ultraviolet A (UVA) light during the day and hydrogen gas at night for 6 weeks to mimic a human daily routine. Mice that breathed hydrogen gas showed less skin damage from UV exposure compared to mice breathing normal air, including less thickening of skin layers, less collagen breakdown, and fewer signs of aging cells. The researchers believe hydrogen gas reduced harmful molecules (free radicals) that UV light creates in skin.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect skin from UV damage, but it was conducted only in mice under controlled laboratory conditions. Human studies would be needed to determine if these results apply to people, and the practical feasibility of using hydrogen gas this way in daily life remains unclear.
Abstract (excerpt)
AimMolecular hydrogen is not only expected to be used as an energy‐generating resource, but also to have preventive effects on a variety of clinical manifestations related to oxidative stress through scavenging radicals or regulating gene expression. In the current study, we investigated…