DNA Repair Enzymes in Skin Care
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Lesezeit 12 min
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Lesezeit 12 min
DNA repair enzymes are gaining popularity in antiaging skincare products. These powerful enzymes work at the cellular level to repair damage caused by environmental stressors like UV radiation, pollution, and more. Incorporating DNA enzymes into your regimen can help maintain youthful, healthy skin while preventing future damage. This blog will explore what DNA enzymes are, how they function, and which ingredients and products to look for when shopping for skincare that supports DNA repair.. These naturally occurring proteins play a vital role in protecting our skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation and other environmental stressors.
In this blog, we will discuss who should use DNA repair enzymes in skin care products, explore their benefits, and discuss how to effectively integrate them into your skincare routine.
Table of contents
Reduces UV-induced DNA damage
Micrococcus Lysate is a commonly used DNA repair enzyme
Photolyase has data to back up it's use
Photozyme is a good brand with DNA repair enzymes
These enzymes may have antiaging effects
A NObel Prize was won in 2015 for this research by Sancar et al.
DNA repair is a crucial biological process that corrects DNA damage, which can arise from sources like UV light, pollution, free radicals, and chemicals. This process operates through a series of steps, each facilitated by specific enzymes:
Different organisms have distinct DNA repair enzymes tailored to their unique environmental exposures and cellular processes.
DNA repair enzymes are specialized proteins that identify and correct damage to the DNA within our skin cells. There are several types of DNA repair enzymes, each with unique functions and origins. I discuss these later in this blog.
While some cleansers may contain DNA repair enzymes, it is important to note that these products typically do not stay on the skin long enough to provide significant repair benefits.
For best results, apply serums with DNA Repair Enzymes to clean skin after cleansing with warm water, which increases blood flow to the area, enhancing enzyme penetration. Follow with a moisturizer to create an occlusive layer that helps drive the enzymes deeper into the skin, optimizing their repair effects.
Photozyme Youth Recovery DNA Repair Serum is my favorite dermatologist recommended DNA repair enzyme serum. But there are many good ones.
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Some moisturizers contain DNA repair enzymes but they do not penetrate as well as serums. I tell my patients to apply a serum with DNA repair enzymes and cover it with a moisturizer that matches their Baumann Skin Type.
Rationale #5 The Gel-Creme is a light moisturizer designed for oily skin types that supports DNA repair and enhances skin resilience. It contains these ingredients to promote DNA repair:
Rationale #6 The Night Cream is an elegant moisturizer designed for dry skin that repairs the skin barrier and supports DNA repair. This luxurious cream includes the following DNA repair ingredients:
These ingredients work together to enhance the skin's natural repair processes, making this cream an excellent choice for those looking to repair and rejuvenate dry, damaged skin.
Sunscreens containing DNA repair enzymes provide an extra layer of protection against UV-induced DNA damage. These products not only block UV rays from reaching the skin but also help repair any damage that may occur. Look for sunscreens that contain photolyase or endonuclease enzymes for optimal DNA repair benefits. Your skin focuses on repair processes at night, so while these sunscreens are good, you really need DNA repair at night.
Rationale #6 The Eye Crème is an elegant eye treatment designed for all skin types, particularly beneficial for delicate under-eye areas, repairing the barrier and aiding in DNA repair. This luxurious eye crème includes the following DNA repair ingredients:
These ingredients work together to enhance the skin's natural repair processes, making this eye crème ideal for rejuvenating and protecting the sensitive skin around the eyes.
To maximize the benefits of DNA repair enzymes, it is essential to incorporate them into your skincare routine strategically. They are best used in the night routine but can also be used in your morning routine.
For optimal results, consider using a DNA repair enzyme serum after any prolonged sun exposure (over 30 minutes of direct sun) to help repair any potential damage.
Here's a step-by-step guide for an evening skincare routine that includes DNA repair enzymes:
Step 1: Cleanse
Begin by thoroughly cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser suitable for your skin type. This step removes dirt, oil, and impurities, preparing your skin for the subsequent products.
Step 2: Eye Cream
Apply a nourishing eye cream to address any specific concerns around the delicate eye area, such as fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles. You can choose one with DNA repair enzymes or use the same serum as step 3.
Step 3: DNA Repair Enzyme Serum
Apply a concentrated serum containing DNA repair enzymes to your face and neck. Allow the serum to absorb fully into your skin before moving on to the next step. The Photozyme Vitamin C+E Ferulic Acid Serum with DNA repair enzymes is an excellent choice for this step, as it combines the benefits of antioxidants and DNA repair enzymes.
Step 4: Moisturizer
Follow up with a moisturizer to hydrate and protect your skin. Look for a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type and contains additional beneficial ingredients, such as antioxidants or skin-restoring peptides.
Step 5: Retinoids or a Retinoid Alternative
See our directions when you build your custom skin care routine using our skin care regimen builder.
In some cases you may want to cycle your step 3 serum using various different antiaging products. Once you take the quiz, our custom monthly emails can help guide you on how to cycle skin care products for your skin type.
Combine with ingredients that boost cellular energy like:
Follow our specific skin type recommendations to know if DNA enzymes or other antiaging ingredients are best for you because there are many choices that include antioxidants, growth factors, retinoids and other aging prevention ingredients and ingredients that restore collagen or prevent sagging skin. There are many types of antiaging ingredients that you may want to use instead of DNA repair enzymes or together with these repair enzymes such as:
Let us help you build a personalized skin care routine to find the best antiaging products to meet your unique skin concerns.
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There are many types of DNA repair enzymes found in skin care products such as sunscreens, serums, moisturizers, and supplements. Below I list the source, mechanism of action and INCI name found on the skin care product label for each DNA repair enzyme found in skin care products.
Endonucleases in skincare products function by recognizing and cutting damaged DNA at specific sites to initiate repair processes. Endonucleases scan the DNA for damage caused by environmental factors like UV light. Upon identifying damaged or mismatched DNA segments, they make precise cuts near these sites. This action allows for the removal of damaged sections, enabling the cellular machinery to fill in the gaps with correct nucleotides, thus restoring the DNA's integrity. Here’s the details of each commonly used endonuclease in skincare:
Micrococcus Endonuclease (Micrococcus Lysate)
T4 Endonuclease V
UV Endonuclease
Endonuclease V
Arabidopsis Endonuclease
Each of these endonucleases has a unique origin and is incorporated into skincare products to enhance the skin's natural ability to repair DNA damage, thus contributing to skin health and reducing the aging effects of environmental stressors.
8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1) is an enzyme that repairs oxidative DNA damage, specifically targeting the removal of 8-oxoguanine, a common lesion caused by reactive oxygen species from UV exposure and other environmental stressors.
These ingredients have less data to back up their use, but can also be found in skin care products.
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract : Derived from a plant commonly used in scientific research, this extract is believed to aid in DNA repair processes. Although it is less frequently discussed in consumer products, its potential benefits in DNA repair make it an interesting addition to skincare formulations.
Hydrolyzed DNA : This ingredient consists of DNA broken down into smaller fragments, which are then used in skincare to support skin cell repair and regeneration. It is particularly useful in promoting the healing of damaged skin.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide : Known for its role in protecting DNA from damage, this peptide supports DNA repair processes and helps in reducing the effects of aging on the skin.
There is a lot to know to find out if DNA repair enzymes are right for your skin- but don't worry, we are here to help. Take the quiz and use our advanced AI skin care concierge to guide you towards the perfect skin care routine for you.
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Yes, DNA repair enzymes in skincare products do work, however they have not been FDA approved to treat or prevent skin aging. A Nobel Prize-winning study in 2015 demonstrated that these enzymes can repair DNA damage in human cells. The enzymes like T4 Endonuclease V and Photolyase have been proven to repair specific types of DNA damage caused by UV radiation. They help to remove DNA lesions that can lead to mutations, skin aging, and even cancer. Studies have shown that when these enzymes are applied topically, they can significantly reduce DNA damage in the skin, which in turn helps in preventing pre-cancerous lesions and reducing the risk of skin cancer.
DNA repair enzymes in skincare products are usually encapsulated in liposomes, which are tiny, fat-like vesicles that help the enzymes penetrate the skin. After application, these liposomes make their way to the deeper layers of the skin, where they are taken up by skin cells. Once inside the cells, the enzymes are released and move to the cell’s nucleus, where they repair damaged DNA.
DNA repair is most effective shortly after damage occurs, but studies have shown that using these enzymes can still be beneficial even after the damage has been done.
DNA repair enzymes can have a positive effect on skin aging by addressing one of its root causes: DNA damage from UV radiation.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015 was awarded jointly to Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich, and Aziz Sancar for their mechanistic studies of DNA repair. Specifically, Aziz Sancar was recognized for his work on nucleotide excision repair, a mechanism that cells use to repair UV-induced DNA damage. This work is foundational to understanding how DNA repair enzymes work and their potential applications in fields like skincare.
The Nobel Prize lecture can be found here: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2015/summary/.
Lapachol is a compound derived from the Lapacho tree, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is believed to support cellular repair processes, but like Hexapeptide-9, there is limited research specifically proving its effectiveness in DNA repair when compared to more established ingredients like Photolyase.