Sunscreens

Sunscreens

 Topical medications useful in protecting against sunlight

 Contain chemicals which act as:
 Sunscreen → absorb UV light
 Sunshade → opaque materials such as titanium dioxide; used to reflect
light
Classes of Chemical
Compounds used
 Dibenzoylmethanes

Benzophenones

p – aminobenzoic
acid (PABA) and its
esters
p – aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and its esters

 Most effective available absorbers in the UV – B region (280 – 320 nm)

Benzophenones

 Includes oxybenzone, dioxybenzone, and sulisobenzone

 Provide a broader spectrum of absorption (250 – 360 nm)
 Effectiveness in the UV – B erythema range is less than that of PABA
Dibenzoylmethanes

 Includes Parasol and Eusolex

 Absorb wavelengths throughout the longer UV – A range, with maximum
absorption at 360 nm
 Patients particularly sensitive to UV – A wavelengths include individuals
with polymorphous light eruption, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and
drug-induced photosensitivity
 In these patients, dibenzoylmethane-containing sunscreen may
provide improved photoprotection
Ecamsule

 Provide greater UV – A protection than the dibenzoylmethanes

 Less prone to photodegradation
Sunscreen
Preparations
 Most sunscreen preparations are designed to absorb UV light in the UV – B
region
 Wavelength range from 280 – 320 nm
 Responsible for most of the erythema and sunburn associated with sun
exposure and tanning
 Chronic exposure to light in this range induces aging of the skin and
photocarcinogenesis
 UV in the longer UV – A range
 320 – 400 nm; also associated with skin aging and cancer
Sun Protection
Factor (SPF)
 Measure of effectiveness in absorbing erythrogenic UV light
 It is determined by measuring the minimal erythema dose with and without
the sunscreen in a group of normal people
 SPF → a ratio of the time required to produce sunburn erythema with and
without sunscreen application
 SPF ≥ 15 → protect against not only sunburn, but also skin cancer and
early skin aging
 SPF = 2 to 14 → can only claim to help prevent sunburn
Updated FDA
Regulations
 Limit the claimed maximum SPF value on sunscreen labels to 50+
 There is no sufficient data to show that products with SPF values higher
than 50 provide greater protection for users
 Require that sunscreens labeled as “broad spectrum” sunscreens will have to
pass a standard test comparing the amount of UV – A radiation protection in
relation to the amount of UV – B radiation.
 Products claiming to be water resistant must indicate whether they remain
effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, based on
standard testing
Fin.