The “healthy, sun-tanned appearance” is still a popularly held perception and, despite much information on the hazards of UV-induced skin diseases and cancers, there appears to be no lessening in the time spent sunbathing. It is a fact, however, that the cells of the human skin are sensitive toward and must be protected from both UVB (290- 320 nm) and UVA (320-380 nm) radiation.
Alongside trying to educate people to the hazards of too much sun exposure, the cosmetics industry must focus on providing safe and effective formulations that offer maximum protection against these damaging properties of UV. An ideal sunscreen formulation should contain active ingredients which protect against radiation within the complete UV range. At the same time they should be stable against UV radiation them– selves and, naturally, safe to human skin under irradiation.
Microfine titanium dioxide (TiO2) complies with all these requirements. The Physical Sunscreens Manufacturers Association (PSMA) has spent many years producing and collating data that support this safety claim. This has led to titanium dioxide being approved as a UV filter for use in sunscreens in the major regulatory jurisdictions of the European Union (EU), the United States and Japan.
