Effects of medicinal waters on the UV-sensitivity of human keratinocytes – a comparative pilot study

Balneotherapy has been used to treat several diseases including locomotor, neurological and dermatological conditions. The basis of the “organic hypothesis” of medical balneology is that medicinal waters, especially thermal spa and hot spring waters, contain a high variability of organic components with possible biological effects, including UV photo-protection. The recent study aims to clarify this effect in a human keratinocyte cell line model. Results confirm that organic-rich extract of selected medicinal waters might protect skin-derived cells from DNA damage. These results give a clinical relevance to medicinal waters or pharmaceutical products prepared from them in preventing the adverse effects of solar or artificial UV radiation on the human skin.