In most articles on pubmed it is concluded that, although some of the negative side effects of some UV-filters, wearing sunscreen every day is better than not applying sunscreen at all. For now I just believe that is true, although looking at this article (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17015167) on Octocrylene producing more ROS than control after 60min and many others about free radical production and hormonal activity/allergic reactions, I wonder if we will find in 25 years some filters weren't as good as we thought.
With that in mind I would like to have a sort of idea what uv-filters have the least possible side effects. I think you could definitely rank sunscreen actives, considering possible photodegradation, hormonal activity, ease of absorption, formation of free radicals, possible photoallergic reactions and the size ("the Dalton rule").
I've ranked some uv-filters, what do you think is the data/ranking correct?
Comments
From best to worst:
1 Tinosorb S (bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, Bemotrizinol) , Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: none photoallergenic: no Dalton: 692
2 Uvinul A plus (Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: none photoallergenic: no Dalton: 398
3 Mexoryl XL (Drometrizole trisiloxane, DTS, Silatriazole), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: ? photoallergenic: no Dalton: 501
4 Uvasorb HEB (Diethylhexyl butamido triazone, Iscotrizinol) , Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: ? photoallergenic: no Dalton: 766
5 Bisdisulizole Disodium (Neo Heliopan AP, Disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: none photoallergenic: no Dalton: 675
6 Tinosorb M (methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol/MBBT, Bisoctrizole), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: none photoallergenic: only to decyl glucoside Dalton: 659
7 Mexoryl SX (Ecamsule, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, TDSA), Photodegradation: some, 40% Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: none photoallergenic: no Dalton: 607
8 Uvinul T150 (Ethylhexyl Triazone, EHT, Octyltriazone), Photodegradation: very little 4% Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: some photoallergenic: unlikely Dalton: 823
9 Ethylhexyl Salicylate (Octisalate, EHS, Octyl Salicylate), Photodegradation: some 30% Hormonal activity: none absorption: some free radicals: none photoallergenic: no Dalton: 250
10 Zinc Oxide , Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: To some extend free radicals: yes photoallergenic: no Dalton: 81
11 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid (Ensulizole, PBSA), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: none free radicals: maybe photoallergenic: yes Dalton: 275
12 Avobenzone (BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, Parsol 1789), Photodegradation: yes, 55% Hormonal activity: none absorption: yes free radicals: none photoallergenic: yes Dalton: 320
13 Titanium dioxide, Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: none absorption: Not known for sure free radicals: yes photoallergenic: no Dalton: 80
14 Trolamine Salicylate (Triethanolamine Salicylate), Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: yes free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton: 287
15 Cinoxate (2-Ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate, Phiasol), Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: ? free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton: 250
16 Dioxybenzone (Benzophenone-8), Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: ? free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton: 244
17 Amiloxate (Isoamyl-p-Methoxycinnamate), Photodegradation: yes, 70% Hormonal activity: ? absorption: ? free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton:
18 Benzohenone-4 (Sulisobenzone), Photodegradation: none Hormonal activity: ? absorption: yes free radicals: ? photoallergenic: yes Dalton: 308
19 Polysilicone-15 (Parsol SLX, Dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate, PS15), Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: ? free radicals: ? photoallergenic: none Dalton: 1500
20 Octocrylene (OCR), Photodegradation: None Hormonal activity: ? absorption: Yes free radicals: Yes photoallergenic: Yes Dalton: 361
21 Homosalate (Homomethyl salicylate, HMS), Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: Yes absorption: Yes free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton: 262
22 Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone) , Photodegradation: some, 10% Hormonal activity: Yes absorption: Yes free radicals: Yes photoallergenic: Yes Dalton: 228
23 Padimate O (Octyldimethyl PABA/Ethylhexyl dimethyl Paba), Photodegradation: Yes, 70% Hormonal activity: Yes absorption: ? free radicals: Yes photoallergenic: unlikely Dalton: 277
24 Octyl methoxycinnamate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate/EHMC/ Octinoxate), Photodegradation: Yes, 60% Hormonal activity: Yes absorption: Yes free radicals: Yes photoallergenic: Yes Dalton: 290
25 Enzacamene, Photodegradation: Some, 20% Hormonal activity: Yes absorption: ? free radicals: ? photoallergenic: Yes Dalton: 251
26 Benzyl Salicylate, Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton:
27 3-benzylidene camphor, Photodegradation: ? Hormonal activity: ? absorption: free radicals: ? photoallergenic: ? Dalton:
Physical sunscreens REFLECTS sun.
Chemical sunscreen ABSORBS sun
@RandyS Is this right?
In Australia, that is the strongest Zinc Oxide sunscreen. It is available overseas too, it's the brand endorsed by Elle MacPherson.
The other point to make is the size of Zinc Oxide. Badger had a really good article regarding this. They said "Zinc oxide is one of only 17 active ingredients currently approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens. Upon application, zinc oxide particles sit on the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum, where they scatter, absorb, and reflect ultraviolet radiation, protecting your living skin below". https://www.badgerbalm.com/s-33.aspx?searchEngineName=zinc-oxide-sunscreen-nanoparticles
The common complaint about Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide is the white cast. Microsizing it seems to help reduce the white cast (though not 100%). I have taken swatches of the physical sunscreen i have used and shared on my blog, even when they say it is "invisible", it is definitely NOT invisible! As I have a fair complexion, the white cast does not worry me as much.
Microsizing comes with other problems though eg toxicity and UVA/UVB protection.More info on Zinc Oxide and Titanium oxide safety and effectiveness here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3781714/
As seen in many sources and corroborated in the above article, The size reduction of microsized ZnO and TiO2 increases UVB absorption of both particles at the expense of UVA absorption.
Am particularly concerned about the production of ROS which @Peter pointed out too.
http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/Articleimage/2010/PP/b9pp00178f/b9pp00178f-f2.gif