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Sunscreen Photostability

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Principles and Practice of Photoprotection

Abstract

Photostability is the resistance to change induced by ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Its antonym photolability is the tendency to change under exposure to UVR. Sunscreen photostability and photolability, with its causes, consequences, and solutions, are the subjects of this chapter.

We begin the chapter with a brief history of photostability in the sunscreen industry and explain why photostability will remain a key issue for many years to come. Because sunscreens are photochemical systems, we present a primer on photochemistry to set the stage for the technical sections to follow. In the first of these, we review what has been learned over the past 20 years about the surprisingly complex photochemistry of the UVA filter, avobenzone. Of the 55 or so UV filters approved throughout the world for the use in sunscreens, about half are in common usage. The photostabilities of many of these have been investigated, and we present the results of the most recent studies. We then focus on how various UV filter combinations affect the photostabilities of individual UV filters and the sunscreen product as a whole. We share strategies for improving sunscreen photostability and discuss the dozen or so commercially available photostabilizers and how they function. Lastly, we discuss different approaches to testing photostability.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ï„ KT represents the lifetime of the keto triplet.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inception Partners, LLC, 0s630 Madison Street, Winfield, IL, 60190, USA

    Craig A. Bonda

  2. Florida Suncare Testing, Inc, 101 N. Bay Street, 758, Bunnell, FL, USA

    Dennis Lott

Authors
  1. Craig A. Bonda
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  2. Dennis Lott
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Craig A. Bonda .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Cen, Dermatology Service, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA

    Steven Q. Wang

  2. Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Medical Center - New Center O, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Henry W. Lim

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Bonda, C.A., Lott, D. (2016). Sunscreen Photostability. In: Wang, S., Lim, H. (eds) Principles and Practice of Photoprotection. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29382-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29382-0_14

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  • Publisher Name: Adis, Cham

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