UV Damage is the #1 Extrinsic Aging Factor
UV Damage Induces Cellular Senescence & Accelerates Aging
What does UV-induced Senescence Look Like?
Photoaging is associated with a number of visible symptoms, including dryness, deep wrinkles, skin laxity, slow wound healing, a higher risk of skin cancer, and leathery skin caused by thickening of the epidermis.1
Many of these symptoms occur because UV-induced senescent cells alter proteins, like collagen and elastin, which keep the skin plump and firm. Without proper function of these proteins, the skin begins to show common signs of aging like skin sagging, wrinkles, and laxity. This effect on collagen and elastin may occur because UV-induced senescent cells show high expression of MMPs, a family of enzymes that break down structural proteins in the skin.¹ Research also shows that UV-induced senescence leads to an increase in melanogenesis, the production of melanin pigment within the skin. This can cause age-related hyperpigmentation or sun spots.2
Senotherapeutics Could Be the Next Frontier in Addressing Photoaging
But what about the UV-induced senescence already present in your skin from your sunbathing days? That’s where senotherapeutics can help. Specifically designed to target senescent cells within the skin, senotherapeutics like the OS-01 peptide are a promising strategy for reducing UV-induced senescence and extending skinspan.1
The OS-01 Peptide Protects Skin Cells from UVB-Induced Cellular Senescence
In lab studies on ex vivo human skin cells, the OS-01 peptide has been shown to reduce the total number of senescent skin cells while maintaining the overall number of skin cells, demonstrating its potential to help reverse a key driver of aging.3 But can OS-01 actually protect skin cells from UV damage, too?

How to Support Your Skin with OS-01
- UV damage is the number one cause of extrinsic skin aging.
- By increasing cellular senescence, UV radiation accelerates skin aging and leads to the degradation of collagen and elastin.
- While scientists believe SPF prevents UV-induced senescence, more evidence is necessary.
- Senotherapeutics like the OS-01 peptide are a promising emerging option for reducing UVB-induced senescence.
- In addition to reducing the overall number of senescent cells, the OS-01 peptide has been shown to decrease UV-induced senescence by 42.5% in human skin samples exposed to UVB radiation.