BASF develops new generation of UV filters to protect skin
24 May '07
3 min read
Sunscreen? For a long time this meant nothing more than protection against sunburn, which is caused by part of the sun's ultraviolet rays known as short-wave UVB radiation. Long-wave UVA radiation, which accounts for 90 percent of the UV light that reaches the earth, was always thought to be harmless.
But now we know that it also affects the skin: among other things, it causes the skin to age prematurely, a process known as photoaging. The characteristic signs include wrinkle formation, decreased elasticity of the skin, pigment spots and lowering of the body's immune function. Since the body gives no warning of excess UVA radiation, as it does for UVB radiation by developing sunburn, the effects accumulate unnoticed and only become apparent after years.
Sun creams have so far offered protection only against UVB radiation and thus against sunburn, but too little against UVA radiation. The EU Commission has now recognized the problem and last year issued a recommendation that sunscreen products should also provide a minimum of protection against UVA. Even without sunbathing, we are exposed to UVA radiation more often than generally assumed – even under a cloudy sky, in the half-shade and behind windows.
"UV filters are increasingly being used in daily skin care and decorative cosmetics. In these applications, special emphasis should be placed on providing reliable protection against free radicals and premature skin aging. Both are caused mainly by deeply penetrating UVA rays", explains Dr. Heike Flößer-Müller, sun protection expert of BASF's Technical Support Cosmetic Solutions. "BASF has developed the highly effective and reliable UVA filter Uvinul A Plus, to address this need."
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