Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Therapeutical Target of Environmentally Induced Skin Conditions.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, expressed in several tissues and involved in the response to environmental stressors. Studies have already associated exposure to environmental factors, such as organic air pollutants, products of the skin microbiota, and solar radiation, with the development/worsening of skin conditions, mediated by AhR. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that synthetic and natural compounds are able to modulate the activation of some AhR signaling pathways, minimizing the harmful response of these environmental stressors in the skin.