To obtain reliable UV protection afforded by sunscreen products for consumers’ health, different key requirements have to be respected including technology, compliance, labelling, assessment methods and finally control.
Concerning the latest necessity, guarantee of confidence in the services and organisations involved in sun protection testing could be easily challenged without enhanced control. Indeed, sunscreen testing is a complex field requiring highly technical expertise and a strong quality system checked by a third-party. After summarising the key requirements which have been already explored, this review focuses on the certification of sunscreen testing for the improvement of UV protection
Nowadays, several initiatives are taken to increase the understanding, the awareness and use of sunscreen due to the effects caused on the skin by sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) rays. Some proposed examples are the UV index information, advertising on sun exposure risks, skin check campaigns, mobile applications with sun exposure timers, UV dose monitor in a tool or patch form, a doll that gets sunburn, sunscreen spray booths, a water slide applying sunscreen, etc. Indeed, it is now globally recognised that skin has to be protected from harmful UV emitted by the sun towards the earth’s surface.
On the one hand, under sun exposure, one of the most familiar examples of sun damage is erythema (most commonly known as sunburn) mainly due to the UVB part of light (wavelength from 290 nm to 320 nm). This biological response of the skin is due to a vascular congestion, often with an oedema and a painful sensation. Clearly, it is preferable to avoid this effect due to further damage but this indicator is extremely helpful to inform people that they should not stay any longer under the sun even if it is already too late. On the other hand, beyond the UVB part, the skin also has to be protected against UVA rays (wavelength from 320 nm to 400 nm) mainly involved in photoageing and photocarcinogenesis. For this reason, different methods of sun protection can be used such as sun avoidance, clothing, glasses or creams, and a combination of them is recommended to adopt a reliable sun protection strategy.
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