Spectrophotometric determination of UV protection provided by cosmetic products with sunscreen properties
WAWRZYŃCZAK A., NOWAK I.

Please cite as: CHEMIK 2011, 65, 7, 655-660

The UV protection provided by sunscreens is an issue of raising importance due to the constantly increasing knowledge about the negative effects that UV radiation induces in the human skin. A number of recent studies have shown that not only the most damaging UVB irradiation (290÷320 nm), but also UVA irradiation (320÷400 nm) causes skin damage. The rating system for sunscreens in the UVB range may be provided by a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value. Lately, the scientific methods for evaluation of the protection level in the UVA region have been also developed. Among them spectrophotometric techniques are the most important ones.

Keywords: UV-Vis spectrophotometry, UVA and UVB radiation, sunscreens, cosmetic products