Skin Hydration's Own Clock

by Isabella Dutta
May 28, 2014

Researchers in Japan have discovered a protein that regulates the circadian ebb and flow of water through the skin’s pores. This latest study involved a molecular link between the body’s natural circadian clock and a protein called aquaglyceroporin, which is involved in the transport of water and glycerol molecules through the pores of the skin.

It is believed that understanding this circadian rhythm may explain why certain topical medications are better absorbed in the evening, when moisture levels are highest. This discovery is expected to lead to a more sophisticated view of the implications of timing for drugs and cosmetics firms.

The study has thus far only been carried out on mice and though mouse and human skin are structurally different, there are enough similarities in aquaglyceroporin levels to make this a significant discovery.

Source: Wall Street Journal, reporting on June issue of Journal of Investigative Dermatology