Ultraviolet radiation can be damaging to the skin. Wearing appropriate clothes, staying in shaded places, and avoiding too much sun exposure can help protect our skin from damage. Moreover, using natural sunscreen such as almond oil can also assist in reducing the photoaging effects of the sun. Learn this and more by reading the animal researches presented below. Let’s dig in…
Almond oil’s capability to prevent photoaging
The topical application of almond oil and its effect on reducing UV light-induced photoaging on the skin has been proven in a 2007 animal study. 20 healthy adult albino mice were used in the study and were divided into two groups. The no treatment mice group (group 1), the almond oil-treated mice (group 2), the UVB-exposed mice group (group 3) and the UVB and almond oil-treated mice (group 4). To develop photo-aging Groups 3 and 4 were exposed to light. For the first week, the mice were exposed daily to UV light for 15 minutes. Eventually, the exposure time was increased by 15 minutes every week. Noticeable wrinkles on the mice’s skin developed at the end of the 12th week, and by that week the exposure time was already 3 hours. This exposure duration was continued till the end of the experiment. To see the preventive effects of almond oil, it was topically applied on the back (dorsal) skin of groups 2 and 4, four hours before UV radiation exposure. (1)
After 12 weeks of exposure to UV radiation, wrinkles had already developed and other noticeable skin change had been observed. When the exposure time reached 2 hours and 45 minutes, erythema developed though not visibly well-defined. When the exposure time was increased to 3 hours, shrinkage of the mice’s skin had occured. It was observed that when the mice were exposed to UVB, the glutathione levels in the mice’s skin were reduced, but increased again after the treatment with almond oil. Moreover, the UV light exposure increased the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), but upon the cutaneous application of almond oil, it was reduced to normal levels. Dysplasia (or an increase in abnormal cell growth, or development) and dyshesive (loss of ordered cohesion between cells) in the epidermal layer were observed in Group 3 after 12 weeks of exposure of to UV radiation. Moreover, there was an occurrence of elastosis (yellowed, thickened skin, with deep wrinkles that don’t disappear with stretching (3)) on the areas where there was no epidermal layer of the skin. (1) On the other hand, the skin of those who are in group 4 had regular epidermal layers after 12 weeks. Moreover, it had bundles of collagen fibers as well as smooth muscle fibers, thus showing the total reversibility of skin. New normal collagen was produced subepidermal after the cessation of irradiation. This new collagen pushed downward the old elastotic tissue. Moreover, group 4 had a lower degree of photo-aging damage such as dermal elastosis and skin tumors, compared to group 3. Thus, these results demonstrated that almond oil has photo-protective effect on the skin after UV exposure and it can also decrease photo-aging caused by UV light. (1)
Positive and negative effects of different almond oils
The effect of the different kinds of almond oil on photoaging caused UVB exposure as well as the development of skin lesions due to UVB and almond oil treatment were investigated in a 2019 animal study. Natural and commercial almond oils were used in this study. The natural almond oil was prepared through extraction by using an oil press, while commercial almond oil was bought. 40 adult albino mice that were six weeks old were used and grouped into four. Group A or the control group did not receive UVB irradiation nor almond oil treated. Group B was UVB irradiated. Group C was UVB irradiated and natural almond oil treated. Group D was UVB irradiated and commercial almond oil treated. Groups B to D were exposed to UVB light for 30 minutes per day, five days a week for six consecutive weeks. The animals in Group C and D received treatment of 5 drops=250µL of almond oils 15 minutes before UVB exposure and 15 minutes after UVB exposure. They were treated 5 days per week. (2)
Results of the study showed that UVB exposure increased the skin layers’ thickness with epidermal inclusion cysts. Another important finding in the study is that almond oils can be used as sunscreen as it can reduce skin thickness induced by UVB exposure. It was also confirmed that natural almond oil can help prevent skin thickness caused by UVB and has a stronger ability to reduce epidermal, dermal, and hypodermal thickness caused by UVB than commercial almond oil. Meanwhile, commercial almond oil was less photo-protective in comparison to natural almond oil. A surprising finding in the study though is that almond oils has a risk to develop or increase the number of epidermal inclusion cysts, as the oils could block the pores of the pilosebaceous apparatus. (2)
Shed some light ❤
References:
- (1) Sultana, Y., Kohli, K., Athar, M., Khar, R. K., & Aqil, M. (2007). Effect of pre-treatment of almond oil on ultraviolet B-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 6(1), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00293.x
- (2) Saeed A.K. Photo-protective Measurements of Almond Oil on UVB- Irradiated Mouse’s Skin and Cyclin D1 Expression. Jordan Journal of Biological Studies. 2019; 12(4): 395-401
- (3) Mayo Clinic. Sun damage: Solar elastosis. Date Retrieved: 3/13/2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/multimedia/sun-damage/sls-20076973?s=6
Oil Therapy 