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The Ideal Spectral Profile of Topical Sunscreens
Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01084.x
© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Photochemistry and Photobiology © 2012 The American Society of Photobiology
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How to Cite
Diffey, B. L. and Brown, M. W. (2012), The Ideal Spectral Profile of Topical Sunscreens. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 88: 744–747. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01084.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 MAY 2012
- Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 10 JAN 2012 12:17PM EST
- Received 2 November 2011, accepted 4 January 2012
- Abstract
- Article
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- Cited By
Abstract
Sunscreens were originally designed to prevent sunburn and incorporated active ingredients that absorbed principally in the UVB region. However, over the past 20 years or so new ingredients have been developed that extend absorption across a much wider range of the solar ultraviolet spectrum in the belief that sunscreens should provide balanced spectral absorption. This article develops the rationale for spectral uniformity by showing that this requirement is aligned to more natural forms of photoprotection. It is shown that a modern sunscreen can provide a spectrally balanced absorption profile in line with shade and many types of clothing fabric. Finally, a new metric is introduced that measures how well the spectral absorption profile of topical sunscreens performs against this ideal.