--- title: "Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial." description: "Daily sunscreen use significantly reduces skin aging, while β-carotene supplements showed no overall benefit." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html" type: "study" study_key: "s185" journal: "Ann Intern Med" year: 2013 pmid: "23732711" doi: "10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s185 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Ann Intern Med | | Year | 2013 | | PMID | [23732711](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23732711/) | | DOI | [10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002](https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002) | | Study key | s185 | ## Takeaway Daily sunscreen use significantly reduces skin aging, while β-carotene supplements showed no overall benefit. ## The question Does regular use of sunscreen or β-carotene supplements retard skin aging, as measured by photoaging, compared to discretionary use or placebo? ## Hypothesis Regular use of sunscreen and/or β-carotene supplements will retard skin aging. ## Methods This was a randomized, controlled, community-based intervention conducted in Nambour, Australia. 903 adults younger than 55 years were randomly assigned to one of four groups: daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and 30 mg β-carotene, daily sunscreen and placebo, discretionary sunscreen and 30 mg β-carotene, or discretionary sunscreen and placebo. The change in microtopography between 1992 and 1996 was graded by blinded assessors to measure skin aging. ## Results The daily sunscreen group showed no detectable increase in skin aging after 4.5 years. Skin aging from baseline to the end of the trial was 24% less in the daily sunscreen group compared to the discretionary sunscreen group. β-carotene supplementation had no overall effect on skin aging. ## Conclusion Regular sunscreen use retards skin aging in healthy, middle-aged men and women. No overall effect of β-carotene on skin aging was identified. ## Limitations Some outcome data were missing, and the study's power to detect moderate treatment effects was modest. ## Verbatim from the abstract > regular sunscreen use retards skin aging in middle-aged men and women ## Reduction in Skin Aging with Daily Sunscreen Use | Measure | Reduction in Skin Aging (%) | | --- | --- | | Daily Sunscreen Group | 24 | | Discretionary Sunscreen Group | 0 | *Skin aging was 24% less in the daily sunscreen group compared to the discretionary sunscreen group.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Daily Mineral SPF Sunscreen | Strong evidence | [Daily Mineral SPF Sunscreen](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/185.md) | ## Reference 1. **Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.** Ann Intern Med 2013 · [PMID 23732711](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23732711/) · [DOI 10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002](https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002) > regular sunscreen use retards skin aging in middle-aged men and women ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html","name":"Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.","description":"Daily sunscreen use significantly reduces skin aging, while β-carotene supplements showed no overall benefit.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s185.html#study","name":"Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.","headline":"Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.","datePublished":"2013","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Ann Intern Med"},"identifier":"PMID:23732711","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23732711/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002","abstract":"Daily sunscreen use significantly reduces skin aging, while β-carotene supplements showed no overall benefit."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Daily Mineral SPF Sunscreen](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/185.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Effects of sunscreen on skin cancer and photoaging](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d24417448.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).