A broad spectrum high‐SPF photostable sunscreen with a high UVA‐PF can protect against cellular damage at high UV exposure doses
Abstract
Summary: Background: Advances in sunscreen technologies have yielded broad spectrum sunscreens at high‐sun protection factor (SPF) and ultraviolet A protection factor (UVA‐PF) levels that are photostable and powerful in protecting skin from erythema. Questions arise whether these sunscreens protect proportionally against cellular skin damage caused by high ultraviolet exposures. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate if high‐SPF sunscreen can protect skin at a cellular level under UV exposure doses [> 50 minimal erythema dose (MED)] similarly to the SPF value. Methods: Sunburn cells, Langerhans cells, thymine dimers, protein 53 (p53), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 and MMP‐9 endpoints were evaluated in biopsies from 12 subjects following four treatments: unprotected exposed to 0, 1 and 3 MED and sunscreen (SPF 55) protected exposed to 55 MED of UV radiation. Results: All the markers showed significantly more damage for the 3 MED‐untreated sites when compared with non‐irradiated control, and majority of the markers showed marked damage following unprotected 1 MED exposure. After 55 MEDs, sunscreen‐protected sites showed significantly less p53 and MMP‐9 (keratinocyte) staining than the 1 MED‐exposed unprotected sites, while all the other biomarkers in sunscreen protected sites showed no statistical differences from 1 MED‐exposed unprotected sites. Conclusions: A high‐SPF photostable sunscreen with high UVA‐PF can provide proportionately high protection against multiple cellular damage markers.
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Lighter skin had higher amounts of cellular biomarker damage, according to Cole et al.'s findings.
“Lighter skin had higher amounts of cellular biomarker damage, according to their findings, highlighting the need for broad-spectrum sunscreen usage even for low levels of sun exposure.”
From A Comprehensive Review of the Role of UV Radiation in Photoaging Processes Between Different Types of Skin (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Cole, C., Appa, Y., & Ou‐Yang, H.
- Affiliations
- Johnson & Johnson (United States) (US)
- Neutrogena (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ou‐Yang, Hao
- Venue
- Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-05-27
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 212-219
- ISSN
- 0905-4383 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0781
- OpenAlex
- W1751486115
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Photodermatology Photoimmunology & Photomedicine (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
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ocular and Laser Science Research
- Keywords
- sunscreen, photostability, broad-spectrum UV protection, UVA protection factor, sunburn cells, Langerhans cells, thymine dimers, p53, MMP-1, MMP-9, keratinocytes, minimal erythema dose
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Erythema, Female, Humans, Langerhans Cells, Male, Middle Aged, Pyrimidine Dimers, Skin, Sunscreening Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Biomarkers, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Matrix Metalloproteinase 1, Sun Protection Factor
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