title: What is needed for a sunscreen to provide complete protection.
abstract: Human skin is increasingly exposed to sunlight. In order to achieve complete protection against the cumulative detrimental effects from sun exposure, topical strategies must shield against the range of solar wavelengths that can damage the skin. Importantly, the harm sustained by the skin is not limited to that caused by the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the light spectrum, but also includes the adverse effects inflicted by near infrared energy. Consequently, in an attempt to provide the necessary broad spectrum coverage, innovative research continues through the exploration of new compounds and novel combinations of chemical and physical UV filters with molecules that are capable of interfering with and/or preventing the deleterious effects of infrared A (IRA) radiation. Existing examples of infrared-protective active agents include mitochondrially targeted antioxidants of synthetic or natural origin.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung (IUF) at the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krutmann
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents