There appears to be a direct relationship between UV exposure and the development of photocarcinogenesis. Based upon the best current information available, a regimen of overall photoprotection which includes protective clothing, avoiding midday sun, and regular use of broad-spectrum high SPF sunscreen should provide significant protection and appears to be reducing melanoma incidence rates. This […]

Sunlight is important in the generation of Vitamin D in the skin. In addition to eating foods containing vitamin D, an essential hormone for normal bone development, sunlight exposure also plays a critical role in supplying the human body with its necessary dose of vitamin D (71). Sunlight converts cutaneous stores of 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) […]

Primary prevention programs for skin cancer that are focused on lowering UV exposure appear to be having a positive effect in lowering skin cancer incidence (52). Persons with a prior history of BCC had fewer subsequent BCCs develop if they protected themselves from UV exposure (53). Reduction in sun exposure by daily use of a […]

Sunscreens should be used in conjunction with daily sun-safety behavior in order to achieve maximal photoprotection. Avoidance of UV radiation to the skin is the ultimate goal. Hats, umbrellas, and protective clothing are easy ways to protect the skin. Daily use of sunscreens with frequent reapplication should be a part of the daily routine. Sunbathing […]

Clothing specifically designed to avoid sun exposure should be incorporated into a comprehensive sun-protection program. Transmission of UV radiation through fibers depends on the radiation that is absorbed by the fiber and scattered by the fiber. Polyester provides more protection than cotton. The cover factor, defined as the ratio of closed spaces to open spaces […]

Physical sunscreens are particles that scatter and reflect UV energy back into the environment. In sufficient quantities, they will serve as a physical barrier to incident UV and visible light. Their popularity has grown in recent years due primarily to their low toxicity profile. These agents are fairly photostable and have not been shown to […]

Chemical sunscreen agents protect the skin by absorbing UV energy and transforming it into heat energy. These compounds absorb UV radiation and convert the energy into longer wave radiation. The sunscreen chemical is excited to a higher energy state from its ground state. As the excited molecule returns to the ground state, energy is emitted […]

Sunscreen use began in the early 20th century. Salicylates were the first agents used in sunscreen preparations, with the first reported sunscreen containing benzyl salicylate and benzyl cinnamate (34). In the 1940s, p-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was patented and incorporated into sunscreen formulations (35). Since its debut, various formulations and derivates of PABA have been introduced […]

Sunscreens work primarily through two mechanisms: (i) scattering and reflection of UV energy, and (ii) absorption of UV energy. Many current sunscreens contain ingredients that work through both mechanisms in terms of UV protection. The most important assay for determining the effectiveness of a sunscreen is the sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF measures a […]