Novel Low Viscosity Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides and Erioglaucine Sunscreen Potential to Protect from Ultraviolet, Visible Light and Near-Infrared Radiation

Abstract

Despite the widespread recommendation and use of sunscreens and ultraviolet blocking materials, solar-induced skin damage and photoageing continues to pose a problem to human health worldwide. We have previously reported that solar visible light and near-infrared also contribute to skin damage and photo ageing. Most commonly recommended sunscreens are only effective throughout the UV spectrum, offering no protection from visible light and near-infrared. A possible solution could be to augment sunscreens with metal oxides which block visible light and near-infrared radiation. To evaluate the enhanced solar-spectrum blocking ability of novel low viscosity sunscreen containing zinc and iron oxides, a double-beam spectrophotometer was used to optically measure the transmission spectra. The spectrophotometer deploys a unique, single monochromatic design to detect wavelength penetration in the range of 240 to 2600 nm. The Sunscreen base without zinc oxide and iron oxides (control) blocked over 80% of ultraviolet-C and ultraviolet-B but did not block ultraviolet-A, visible light, or near-infrared. The novel low viscosity zinc oxide sample blocked almost over 90% ultraviolet, but did not block visible light and near-infrared sufficiently. However, the samples with the novel low viscosity zinc oxide, iron oxides and erioglaucine blocked almost over 90% of ultraviolet, visible light and near-infrared. It can be concluded that this novel combination of low viscosity zinc oxide, iron oxides and erioglaucine is effective at blocking ultraviolet, visible light and near-infrared radiation. The results of this study imply that sunscreens that provide comprehensive photoprotection from ultraviolet through to near-infrared should be adopted to prevent skin photodamage.