Story highlights Photoaging is skin wrinkling, spotting and loss of elasticity caused by sun damage

Regular sunscreen use protects against photoaging, researchers find

It's the first study to quantify sunscreen's anti-aging properties

(CNN) It turns out sunscreen does more than protect you from cancer and painful sunburns -- it offers a boost to simple vanity.

A new study finds that regular sunscreen use protects against photoaging: the wrinkling, spotting and loss of elasticity caused by exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

While they may not be shocking, the findings -- from Australian researchers -- are the first to quantify sunscreen's anti-aging properties.

More than 900 participants were followed for four years. Some were told to use sunscreen daily and instructed in proper use, including re-applying sunscreen after being outside for a few hours, after going in the water or after sweating heavily.

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Other participants were given no directions with regard to using sunscreen -- it was considered unethical to ask them to not use it.

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