Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids: The Algae-Made UV Filters Researchers Are Studying
Mycosporine-like amino acids, or MAAs, are small molecules that seaweeds and cyanobacteria make to absorb ultraviolet light. A 2026 lab study suggests some MAAs may also act as antioxidants and block enzymes linked to skin aging. These results are early and come from test tubes, not people, so MAAs are a promising research area rather than a proven sunscreen ingredient today.
What MAAs are and why algae make them
Organisms that live in shallow water or on rocks cannot move into the shade. Many of them solve that problem chemically. They build MAAs, compact molecules that absorb UV energy before it can damage the cell's DNA and proteins. In that sense they function much like the organic filters a chemist puts into a sunscreen.
Scientists have described more than 70 different MAAs. Commercial interest, though, has focused on only a handful of well-known ones. Many chemically modified versions have barely been studied, even though tiny differences in structure can change how a molecule behaves.
Cosmetic companies are interested for a simple reason: shoppers keep asking for nature-derived ingredients, and MAAs come with an evolutionary track record of UV protection.
The 2026 study in brief
A team led by Professor Hakuto Kageyama at Meijo University in Japan compared two MAAs with different structures. Their paper appeared online in January 2026 in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry.
- Porphyra-334 is a common MAA found in edible seaweed. The team extracted it from dried seaweed.
- GlcHMS326 is an unusual, modified MAA with extra chemical groups attached. It was isolated from a cyanobacterium collected at a hot spring in Thailand.
After purifying both compounds, the researchers checked how they held up under heat and light and then ran a series of standard lab assays.
What the lab tests showed
Each molecule had its own strengths, which was the most interesting part to me as a formulator.
Antioxidant activity. GlcHMS326 behaved as a strong but slow antioxidant, meaning it neutralized free radicals gradually rather than instantly. Porphyra-334 was weaker here. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to visible aging.
Antiglycation. Glycation happens when sugars attach to proteins such as collagen, making them stiffer and less functional. Porphyra-334 did a better job of preventing this protein damage than GlcHMS326.
Collagenase inhibition. Collagenase is an enzyme that breaks down collagen. GlcHMS326 blocked it more strongly, which hints at possible anti-aging uses.
ACE inhibition. Both MAAs reduced the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme, which helps regulate blood pressure. Some common blood pressure medicines target this same enzyme. The researchers say this is the first report of MAAs doing this, but the effect was moderate and seen only outside the body.
As Kageyama put it, the data support MAAs as potential multifunctional natural sunscreen ingredients, and chemical modifications can substantially change their profiles.
Why you will not find MAA sunscreens on the shelf yet
It is tempting to read a study like this and expect a new product next summer. From the formulation bench, the road is much longer.
Lab results are not skin results
These were controlled experiments in dishes and tubes. Nobody yet knows whether the same effects happen on living skin, at what concentration, or whether a cream can deliver enough of the molecule to matter.
Regulation sets the pace
In the United States, sunscreen filters are regulated as over-the-counter drug ingredients. Any new filter needs extensive safety and effectiveness data before it can be sold as sun protection. That process has historically taken many years. Real talk, a cosmetic could include MAAs as an antioxidant ingredient, but it could not claim SPF from them without approval.
Practical formulation hurdles
A useful filter must be stable in sunlight, compatible with other ingerdients, affordable to produce at scale, and pleasant on skin. MAAs from wild algae or hot-spring microbes raise questions about supply and consistency. Researchers are exploring fermentation and other production methods, but those take time to mature.
Could MAAs show up in food?
Porphyra-334 is plentiful in edible seaweeds that people already eat around the world. The researchers note that everyday foods may contain overlooked bioactive compounds worth more study. That does not mean eating seaweed protects your skin from the sun or lowers blood pressure. It means scientists have a new question to test.
What to use in the meantime
While MAA research develops, the basics still work: a broad-spectrum sunscreen applied generously, reapplied every couple of hours outdoors, plus shade, hats, and clothing. If you like antioxidant serums, they can sit under sunscreen, but they do not replace it.
Morning drives are an easy time to forget protection, since car side windows pass some UVA. And if your car lease is nearing its end, a tool to compare your car's lease equity shows whether returning or buying out the vehicle makes more sense.
If you have reactive skin or a medical condition, ask a dermatologist before trying products marketed with new or unusual ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Are MAAs approved sunscreen filters?
Not in the United States. They are being studied for UV absorption and other effects, but they are not approved as sunscreen active ingredients there.
Do MAAs lower blood pressure?
That has not been shown in people. The 2026 study found moderate ACE inhibition in lab tests only, so any health effect remains unproven.
Is natural sunscreen safer than synthetic sunscreen?
Not automatically. Safety depends on testing, concentration, and formulation. Natural origin does not guarantee better protection or fewer reactions.
Which MAA performed better in the study?
Neither was best overall. GlcHMS326 was a stronger slow antioxidant and collagenase blocker, while porphyra-334 was better at preventing glycation.
Can I get MAA benefits by eating seaweed?
No one knows yet. Porphyra-334 is found in edible seaweed, but there is no evidence that eating it protects skin from UV damage.
The bottom line
MAAs are a fascinating example of nature solving the sunlight problem, and this study suggests they may do more than absorb UV. Still, the findings are early and lab-based. Keep an eye on the research, and keep relying on proven broad-spectrum sunscreen in the meantime.