Inhibitory effects of tannic acid on skin toxicity and heat shock protein induced by UVB were investigated. Tannic acid was administered either topically or orally for 3 days to hairless mice, which were previously irradiated with UVB. UVB was found to cause skin erythema . However, the skin erythema was decreased when tannic acid was administered either topically or orally. The heat shock proteins, Hsp-78 kDa and 70 kDa, were induced by UVB irradiation, but the induction was decreased by treatment of tannic acid in both topically and orally administered groups. The hsp induction was more prominent in orally administered groups than in topically administerd groups. However, the difference between two groups was not statistically significant. The route of administrations, topical and oral, does not affect the activity of tannic acid. In the skin tissue observation, tannic acid regenerated the epithelial cells with 7-9 cell layers which were injured by UVB. In conclusion, tannic acid has an ability to protect against UVB irradiation and regenerate the skin.