Observations on the mechanism of the protective action of sunscreens

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12507498· OSTI ID:6779012

Blank, I H; Cohen, J H; Anderson, R R; Jaenicke, K F; Parrish, J A

A method is described for measuring the entrance into excised skin of ultraviolet radiation absorbing chemicals (UVRACs) following their application to the cutaneous surface in volatile, partially volatile or nonvolatile vehicles. Also a method is presented for observing changes in optical density (OD) of a sheet of stratum corneum subsequent to the application of an UVRAC and then washing it from the surface. Using these methods, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and 2-ethylhexyl p-dimethyl aminobenzoate (O-PABA) have been studied. In the presence or absence of the nonvolatile vehicle, isopropyl myristate (IM), significant amounts of PABA enter the skin but almost all of the O-PABA remains on the surface. Nevertheless subsequently PABA is more easily removed by water than is O-PABA. When either UVRAC is applied to excised stratum corneum, the OD of the tissue increases immediately; only with PABA is there a further increase as it enters the skin. In vivo, delayed erythemal responses to 280-400 nm radiation of persons to whom the UVRACs are applied correlate well with the observations made on excised skin.

• Research Organization: Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• OSTI ID: 6779012
• Journal Information: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States) Vol. 78:5; ISSN JIDEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550900* -- Pathology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BENZOIC ACID
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ERYTHEMA
MEASURING METHODS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SKIN
SYMPTOMS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION