The Sunny Science of Skin Protection – Morning Sign Out at UCI

Written by Jacob Liu and Edited by Kevin Liu

Skin! It’s the largest organ of the human body and is part of our first line of defense of our immune system. However, despite it weighing about eight pounds on average and covering an area of 22 square feet, taking good care skin isn’t always at the forefront of one’s mind [1]. Every day, human beings live their lives under the sun, and as bright and warm as it may be, sunlight is also a consistent source of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure which clinical evaluations have linked to being responsible for 80% of aging signs in skin [2]. Considering the broad range of skin tones, undertones, and shades present in the worldwide human population, there is a complex set of variables regarding skin care. However, even though skin care may differ, all skin needs to be protected from damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. As cosmetics and personal care become more accessible and higher on personal priority, the science of skin care through protection from the sun has become all the more relevant to providing a reputable scientific foundation.

Given this plethora of experimental data analysis regarding extensive populations of varying skin types, there has since been developed a modestly subjective method of skin color delineation known as the Fitzpatrick system. This system, also referred to as the Fitzpatrick scale, categorizes skin into six distinct types based on basal complexion, inflammatory response, and susceptibility to tanning and sunburning—all of which are largely determined by the amount and type of a skin pigment known as melanin that is produced by the body [3]. As the numeration of the Fitzpatrick system increases, the general trend goes from fairer skin tones with less melanin that are very susceptible to sunburns and tanning to darker skin tones with more melanin that are much less susceptible to sunburns and consequently do tan more. Nonetheless, no matter what level of pigmentation is present in the skin, all humans are still susceptible to the carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, effects of solar radiation like ultraviolet light. As such, it requires protection from sun damage.

As most people risk their skin for potential sun damage just through everyday exposure, dermatologists recommend the daily usage of sunscreens with either active ingredients of zinc oxide or avobenzone due to their effectiveness for blocking ultraviolet radiation [4]. Additionally, the sun protection factor (SPF) specifically details how protected you are. A sunscreen’s SPF is a ratio comparing the amount of UV radiation your protected skin would need to be exposed to in order to cause a sunburn to the amount of UV radiation that would cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. Sunscreens with an SPF of 30 greater are recommended [5]. This means that recommended sunscreen protects upwards of 30 times the amount of ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise normally cause a sunburn.

While the skincare and cosmetic industry grows, future research areas could investigate personalized skin protection regiments based on pigmentation, sunlight exposure levels, and the desired appearance of the individual. However, there are potential risks that come with such specialized systems of skin protection and the potential consequences of malignant skin cancer are dire, reflected as such by the fact that since 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any new sunscreen active ingredients due to stringency of safety and efficacy requirements [4]. Nonetheless, as advancements continue in sun protection technology such as application ease and versatile performance, it remains important to protect one’s skin with daily sunscreen use of sufficient SPF.

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