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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) Testing
Published on: May 28, 2013
The relation between sun protection factor and amount of suncreen applied in vivo
1Department of Dermatology, D92, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Af16@bbh.hosp.dk
Background:
The declared sun protection factor (SPF) is based on the use of a sunscreen layer of 2 mg cm(-2). However, only around a quarter (0 x 5 mg cm(-2)) of this amount is applied by sunbathers. Theoretical calculations have suggested that the effective SPF is related to sunscreen quantity in an exponential way but this was not confirmed in vitro and has not been studied in vivo.
Objectives:
To investigate the relation between SPF and sunscreen amount in vivo.
Subjects And Methods:
On the backs of 20 healthy volunteers, five areas of 34 cm(2) each were marked. One area was phototested to determine the ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity. Four areas were treated with a sunscreen SPF 4 in different amounts: 0 x 5, 1, 2 and 4 mg cm(-2). Thirty minutes after sunscreen application a phototest was conducted on each area. The effective SPF was calculated 22-26 h after irradiation using the UV dose needed to produce just perceptible erythema (minimal erythema dose) on protected and unprotected skin.
Results:
In all areas the mean SPF was significantly different from an SPF of 1 (no protection) (P
Conclusions:
This study indicates that the relation between SPF and sunscreen quantity follows exponential growth. Application of 1 mg cm(-2) or 0 x 5 mg cm(-2) makes the SPF fall as the square or fourth root, respectively, and 4 mg cm(-2) results in an almost squared SPF.
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