Perfect Conditions and In-House Quality Control for Reliable Protection of Consumers - and reliable claim support
Numerous irradiation systems (Multiport 601- 300), used in parallel and certified annually, are available for technical implementation. The in-house quality control ensures, also in addition to the external certifications, an optimal and method-compliant compliance with all technical boundary conditions.
The same applies to the in vitro determination of UVA parameters. Here, a Bentham spectrometer SSUV300 and optionally an Atlas Sun Test CPS+ or a NewPort XD-9509-4 are used as irradiation devices. Cooling during measurement and storage of the samples in a climatic cabinet are just as much a matter of course as a spectrometer that realizes linear functionality up to an OD 6, and a dynamic range that is certainly rarely encountered in the field of UVA testing anywhere in the world.
Standard Tests
SPF static
- ISO 24444:2019
- FDA, Final Rule 2011 / Proposed Rules (2019)
- AS/NZS 2604:2021
- ISO 23698 (HDRS – expected soon)
- International SPF Testmethod 2006 (COLIPA – CTFA SA – JCIA – CTFA US)
SPF with water resistance or extra water resistance determination – in the spa pool or under the waterfall shower
- ISO 16217:2020
- ISO 18861:2020
- FDA, Final Rule 2011 / Proposed Rules (2019)
- AS/NZS 2604:2021
- ISO 23698 (HDRS – expected soon) with ISO 16217:2020
- COLIPA Guideslines 2005
SPF with sweat resistance – in the sauna
UVA in vivo
- ISO 24442:2022
- PPD/PFA nach JCAI Standard 1995 (1999)
- ISO 24443:2021/2022
- Boots Star Rating System (2011 Revision)
- FDA, Final Rule 2011 / Proposed Rules (2019)
- AS/NZS 2604:2021
- COLIPA 2011 (COLIPA Ratio)
Basic Information
The first modern sun cream based on UV filters – “delial Salbe” – was put on the market in 1933. The Hamburg radiation physicist Rudolf Schulze (1906–1974) introduced the term sun protection factor (SPF) in 1956, but at first it was used only by dermatologists. It took some years before it appeared in claims for sun protection products. The sun protection factor (SPF) is supposed to allow the consum-er to directly compare the protection afforded by sunscreens.
Since 2006 a directive of the COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES governs product claims in Europe. According to this, sun protection products are divided into four protection classes. The measured sun protection factor is rounded down to the next specified discrete protection factor:
| Label SPF | Protection class |
| 6 | Low |
| 10 | |
| 15 | Moderate |
| 20 | |
| 25 | |
| 30 | High |
| 50 | |
| 50+ | Very high |
Products with sun protection factors below 6 are no longer classified as sunscreens because the main purpose of the product (sun protection) is not achieved due to the low protective effect. Claiming “sun-block” used earlier is likewise no longer used in order to prevent misunderstanding by consumers.
According to the EU directive, sunscreens must provide, in addition to UVB protection, also protection against UVA radiation. The UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) should equal at least 1/3 the sun protection factor.
References:
- Rohr M, Schrader A, Bielfeld S, Schrader K (1993) Einfluss des Bestrahlungsspektrums bei der Bestimmung des Sonnenschutzfaktors (SSF). Euro Cosmetics 1(1), 53-6
- Schrader K. (1994) Bewertung von Sonnenschutzmitteln. Skin Care Forum 10, 1-8
- Schrader K. and Schrader A. (1994) Die Sonnenschutzfaktorbestimmung: Prüfung der Wasserresistenz. Eine kritische Betrachtung aus experimenteller Sicht. Aktuelle Dermatologie 20(4), 130-4.
- Rohr M., Schrader A. (2003) Quality of irradiation – An essential criterion of SPF determination. SÖFW J 129(3), 2-10
