RESEARCH LINKS SKIN BREAKDOWN WITH UVA RAYS.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Ultraviolet A solar rays, a form of sunlight not blocked by most lotions now on the market, can cause wrinkles, sagging and other damage to skin, according to a study to be published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

UVA solar radiation turns a natural molecule on the skin surface into a form of oxygen that speeds up the aging of the skin, said John D. Simon, a Duke University biophysicist and the co-author of the study.

Researchers have long known that sunlight can cause the skin to wrinkle and turn leathery. But experts said the Simon study is the first to show why this happens - and to link it to UVA rays.

The new study underscores the importance of using a lotion that blocks both types of ultraviolet radiation - UVA and UVB. Right now, most sunscreens focus on protecting against UVB while doing little to protect against UVA.

``As with all skin cancers, your risk of them increases with prolonged sun exposure,'' said Dr. Lee Rosen, an oncologist at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center. ``If it is caught early, it can be completely cured. But if it's allowed to go too long, the results can be dreadful.''

Rosen recommended that people - especially those with fair skin - wear hats, long sleeves and sunscreens with a sun protective factor of at least 15.