Abstract

FERREIRA, Carolina Boavida  and  FERREIRA, João Boavida. Does melatonin have a skin photoprotective action?: an evidence-based review. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2020, vol.36, n.1, pp.43-56. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v36i1.12569.

Objectives: To review whether there is evidence in favour of using melatonin as a skin photoprotective agent. Methods: Search in the databases National Guideline Clearinghouse, NICE Guidelines Finder, The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE/PubMed, of Portuguese Health Ministry’s Direção-Geral da Saúde clinical guidelines (NOC), systematic reviews (RS), meta-analyses (MA) and randomized controlled trials (ECA), published between January 1998 and January 2018, using the MeSH terms ‘skin erythema’, ‘skin aging’, ‘melatonin’ and ‘stress’. The search was limited to articles written in English and Portuguese. Results: Seven ECA from an initial survey of 93 articles were included. No RS, MA or NOC were found on the subject. The selected articles demonstrated the efficacy of the use of melatonin in the reduction of post-exposure cutaneous erythema, and with a photoprotective effect, if used before sun exposure or ultraviolet radiation; if used later, its effect was null. Conclusions: Melatonin therapy has, in the short term, a photoprotective effect. Studies with larger samples and with a longer follow-up period are necessary to test for the effectiveness and safety of melatonin in the long-term.

Keywords : Melatonin; Skin erythema; Photoprotection.

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