Enhancing the sweat resistance of sunscreens

BACKGROUND

While sunbathing of performing outdoor sport activities, sunscreens are important for protection of uncovered skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, perspiration negatively affects the performance of a sunscreen film by weakening its substantivity and uniformity through the activation of two mechanisms, namely sunscreen wash-off and sunscreen redistribution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used a perspiring skin simulator to investigate the effect of sunscreen formulation on its efficiency upon sweating. Specifically, we modified the sunscreen formulation by incorporating a hydrophobic film former and adding water-absorbing particles. Sunscreen performance before and after perspiration is assessed by in vitro sun protection factor measurements, direct detection of changes in the sunscreen distribution using UV reflectance imaging, and by coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy for microscopic characterization of the UV filter relocation.

RESULTS

The results show that incorporating a hydrophobic film former can decrease sunscreen wash-off due to sweating, while an excessive amount of film former might negatively affect the sunscreen distribution. The addition of water-absorbing particles, on the other hand, had either a negative or positive impact on the sunscreen substantivity, depending on the particle properties. While the addition of large water-absorbing particles appeared to increase sunscreen redistribution, smaller particles that could form a gel-like structure upon contact with water, appeared to change sunscreen wetting and sweat droplet spreading, thereby decreasing sunscreen wash-off and sunscreen redistribution.

CONCLUSIONS

We find that using a combination of hydrophobic film formers, which increase water resistance, and small water-absorbing particles, which change the wetting behavior, can make sunscreen formulations more sweat-resistant and less runny.

In vitro skin model for characterization of sunscreen substantivity upon perspiration

OBJECTIVE

The resistance of sunscreens to the loss of ultraviolet (UV) protection upon perspiration is important for their practical efficacy. However, this topic is largely overlooked in evaluations of sunscreen substantivity due to the relatively few well-established protocols compared to those for water resistance and mechanical wear.

METHODS

In an attempt to achieve a better fundamental understanding of sunscreen behaviour in response to sweat exposure, we have developed a perspiring skin simulator, containing a substrate surface that mimics sweating human skin. Using this perspiring skin simulator, we evaluated sunscreen performance upon perspiration by in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) measurements, optical microscopy, ultraviolet (UV) reflectance imaging and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Results indicated that perspiration reduced sunscreen efficiency through two mechanisms, namely sunscreen wash-off (impairing the film thickness) and sunscreen redistribution (impairing the film uniformity). Further, we investigated how the sweat rate affected these mechanisms and how sunscreen application dose influenced UV protection upon perspiration. As expected, higher sweat rates led to a large loss of UV protection, while a larger application dose led to larger amounts of sunscreen being washed-off and redistributed but also provided higher UV protection before and after sweating.