Past, Present, and Future of Sun Protection Metrics

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Cosmetology
• Photobiology and Radiation Protection

Background:

• The development of sunscreen products has historically focused on quantifying their protective performance.
• The in vivo method for determining sun protection factor (SPF) became an internationally standardized gold-standard.

Observation:

• Existing standardized SPF measurement methods have limitations, including confined radiation spectra and invasiveness.
• These methods are complex, time-consuming, and costly, prompting the development of alternative approaches.
• Significant interlaboratory variances in SPFISO 24444 measurements have been recently observed.

Findings:

• There is a clear need to investigate alternative methods for measuring sunscreen performance.
• These alternative methods could complement, serve as equivalents, or potentially replace existing reference methods.
• A broad investigation is proposed to assess the suitability and equivalency of alternative methods, considering interlaboratory variances.

Implications:

• A public research program is being planned to bring together stakeholders for advancing the standardization of sunscreen performance measurement.
• This initiative aims to foster collaboration between research, industry, authorities, and the public.
• The study provides insights into historical, technical, and future developments in methods for determining sunscreen protective performance.