title: Protection against long ultraviolet and/or visible light with topical dihydroxyacetone. Implications for the mechanism of action of the sunscreen combination, dihydroxyacetone/naphthoquinone.
abstract: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) chemically induces long ultraviolet (UV) and/or visible photoprotection into the stratum corneum as demonstrated by (a) long UV protection of albino rats which were psoralen-photosensitized to black fluorescent light and (b) sunlight protection of five patients with long UV and/or visible photosensitivity. Previously, DHA treatment of skin was considered to provide no protection against UV. For clinical use, the combination of DHA and lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is preferred to DHA alone, because it provides rapid, positive protection over a range extending from short UV into the visible region of sunlight.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004098:Dihydroxyacetone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014306:Trioses / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014306:Trioses; D004098:Dihydroxyacetone; C005090:lawsone