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Manasa Sreedevi

 

Manasa Sreedevi

University Hospitals of Leicester, United Kingdom

Abstract Title: A comprehensive review of the role of ultraviolet radiation in photoaging across different skin types

Biography:

Dr Manasa Sreedevi is an Internal Medicine Trainee at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, United Kingdom, with a strong academic interest in dermatology. Her interests include photodermatology, photoaging, skin of colour, and preventive dermatology. She has co-authored a PubMed-indexed narrative review published in Cureus exploring the role of ultraviolet radiation in photoaging across different skin types, integrating mechanistic skin biology with clinically relevant preventive strategies. She is actively pursuing further academic and clinical opportunities in dermatology and aims to progress into higher specialty training in the field

Research Interest:

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major extrinsic factor driving photoaging, with distinct biological effects across different Fitzpatrick skin types. Variations in melanin content, structure, and distribution influence susceptibility to UV-induced DNA damage, collagen degradation, oxidative stress, and skin carcinogenesis. Lighter skin types (I–III) possess a low natural sun protection factor (SPF) of approximately 3.3, rendering them highly vulnerable to UVB-induced DNA mutations, accelerated photoaging, and increased skin cancer risk. In contrast, darker skin types (IV–VI) exhibit a higher natural SPF of around 13.4 due to increased eumelanin content, offering enhanced photoprotection while predisposing individuals to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and delayed skin cancer diagnosis. UVA radiation penetrates deeply into the dermis, promoting matrix metalloproteinase activation and collagen breakdown, whereas UVB primarily affects the epidermis, inducing direct DNA damage and mutagenesis. Eumelanin in darker skin effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species, reducing oxidative stress, while pheomelanin, predominant in lighter skin, may act as a pro-oxidant, further increasing vulnerability to photoaging. Although melanoma incidence is lower in individuals with darker skin, diagnosis often occurs at more advanced stages, resulting in poorer prognoses. This review highlights the need for tailored photoprotection strategies. Lighter skin types benefit from high-strength broad-spectrum sunscreens (SPF ≥50) and DNA-repair-enhancing agents, whereas darker skin types require balanced photoprotection (SPF 30–50) with emphasis on pigmentation control and early cancer detection. Understanding these mechanistic differences enables the development of individualized preventive strategies to reduce long-term UV-related skin damage across all skin types.