Microfine zinc oxide is a superior sunscreen ingredient to microfine titanium dioxide
Abstract
Background Microfine zinc oxide and microfine titanium dioxide are particulate sunscreen ingredients that absorb broad-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Objective We compare microfine zinc oxide and microfine titanium dioxide for their abilities to attenuate UVA radiation and their relative whiteness in cosmetic formulations. Methods UVA attenuation was measured by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy on normal human skin in vivo. Whiteness was determined by reflectance density of dried coatings on a black background of the two particulates at varying concentrations. Results Microfine zinc oxide demonstrates superior protection compared to microfine titanium dioxide in the UV spectrum between 340 and 380 nm. Microfine zinc oxide is less white than titanium dioxide at all concentrations. Conclusion Microfine zinc oxide is superior to microfine titanium dioxide as a sunscreen ingredient. It is more protective against long-wave UVA and is less white at a given concentration.
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ZnO offers protection extending to the UVA I (up to 380 nm) range, but the magnitude of UV protection from ZnO is low compared with other organic UV filters.
“Finally, ZnO offers protection extending to the UVA I (up to 380 nm) range ( 55), but the magnitude of UV protection from ZnO is low compared with other organic UV filters.”
From Photoprotection: a Review of the Current and Future Technologies (2010) · cites this paper as [55]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Pinnell, S. R., Fairhurst, D., Gillies, R., Mitchnick, M. A., & Kollias, N.
- Affiliations
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pinnell, Sheldon R.
- Venue
- Dermatologic Surgery
- Published
- 2000-04
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 309-314
- ISSN
- 1076-0512 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1975827204
- Cited by
- 155
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 2.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Dermatologic Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › ZnO doping and properties
- Keywords
- zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, sunscreen ingredients, UVA protection, UV absorption, skin lightening, cosmetic formulation, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Particle Size, Skin, Spectrophotometry, Sunscreening Agents, Titanium, Ultraviolet Rays, Zinc Oxide
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