Visible Light Sunscreens

If you are sensitive to visible light, indoor lights probably bother you.  People with solar urticaria,  polymorphous light eruption, erythropoietic porphyria, chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD), and other conditions can be sensitive to visible light. You can easily check if a sunscreen will protect against visible light. The sunscreen needs to be opaque and not transparent. If you can see your skin through the sunscreen, it does not protect against visible light. Think of the old fashioned white zinc oxide sunblock that lifeguards from the 1960s used to put on their noses. 

Visible light sunscreens are opaque (can't be  seen through) and tinted to match your skin color.  Visible light sunscreens are very rare as there is not much demand for them.  In the United States, it costs about $25,000 to test a sunscreen to meet FDA requirements, so with such little demand, no visible light sunscreens exist in the U.S. The Dundee sunscreen from Scotland (described below) was specifically developed for protecting against visible light.  In desperation, I tried using camouflage creams for covering birthmarks, scars and tattoos. I found Dermablend cover creme (SPF 30) to work as a sunblock for me, if I applied it thick enough. Whatever you try, the objective is to cover the skin and block out the sun so that no sunlight reaches the skin. You should not be able to see your skin through the sunscreen - all you see is the sunscreen. 

Most modern sunscreens contain micronized titanium dioxide or micronized zinc oxide. Micronized versions of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide DO NOT protect against visible light and only protect against UVB and some portions of UVA light. The old fashioned, larger particle size, pigmentary grade  versions of titanium dioxide (rutile) and zinc oxide do protect against visible light, UVB and UVA.  Again think of old fashioned white zinc oxide sunblock that lifeguards from the 1960s used to put on their noses. The old fashioned life guard sunscreen or tinted version of it is needed to protect against visible light. Unfortunately, most modern sunscreens only use the micronized versions of  titanium dioxide or micronized zinc oxide.

I found this information at at Photobiology research department in Scotland: Dundee reflectant sunscreen beige/coffee/coral pink  Abstract of research paper below.

Dundee sunscreen is a physical sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide made here in Dundee. Beige/coffee/coral pink indicates a difference in colour. When used correctly they provide improved protection for photosensitive patients against UVA, UVB and visible light. As most common sunscreens are formulated to confer protection against UV radiation [especially UVB, to reduce the risk of sunburn], they tend not to give significant protection against longer wavelengths. To meet this need a new range of sunscreens has been developed. These have a new improved formula from the original Dundee J, K and L sunscreens. You may be given or prescribed two of these three. You should mix small amounts of the two prescribed creams together in a small container and match it to your own skin colour/pigment, before applying as above. To obtain supplies of reflectant sunscreen please ask your General Practitioner to prescribe this for you. Your GP should endorse your prescription ACBS. Orders should be sent to Tayside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY [Tel 01382 632052; Fax 01382 632060]. Other sunscreens that were recommended include RoC 25 SPF and Sun E45 SPF25, 50. [sunbloc]

British Journal of Dermatology
Volume 145 Issue 5 Page 789  - November 2001

New sunscreens confer improved protection for photosensitive patients in the blue light region (visible light)
H. Moseley, H. Cameron, T. MacLEOD, C. Clark, R. Dawe and J. Ferguson

Background  Some patients with photosensitivity disorders are sensitive to visible radiation. As current commercial sunscreens do not significantly absorb in this region, there is a lack of effective topical photoprotection. To meet this need a new range of sunscreens has been developed incorporating zinc oxide and pigmentary grade titanium dioxide as active ingredients.

Objectives  To determine the effectiveness of the new sunscreens in providing protection for patients with visible radiation photosensitivity.

Conclusions  This study demonstrates that the new sunscreens do provide protection for patients with sensitivity to visible light (blue light region).

Sunless tanning lotions:

I read is that Dihydroxyacetone can protect against the lower portion of the visible spectrum. Many sunless
Tanning lotions contain dihyroxyacetone. So that might be worth a try to see if a sunless tanning lotion would make a difference. Note, research studies showed that this ingredient only provides an SPF of 3. 

Visible light sunscreen research

Efficiency of opaque photoprotective agents in the visible light range.

Kaye ET, Levin JA, Blank IH, Arndt KA, Anderson RR., Arch Dermatol. 1991 Mar;127(3):351-5.

Department of Dermatology, Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicines, Boston, Mass.

"Opaque" physical sunscreens are important for photoprotection of individuals with visible light and UV-A photosensitivity such as those with porphyria, drug photoallergy, and polymorphous light eruption. Diffuse spectral transmittance of various thicknesses of opaque sunscreen formulations were measured from 350- to 800-nm range using a spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere. Transmission through 20% zinc oxide paste was high and decreased minimally despite large increases in the sunscreen layer thickness. Adding a visible light absorber such as iron oxide to scattering sunscreens, however, substantially lowered transmittance below that predicted by the product of the transmittances for each component alone. Opaque sunscreens protected against hematoporphyrin derivative photosensitization of albino guinea pig skin; these results were quantitatively consistent with the in vitro findings. Poor photoprotection against visible light is obtained with white paste sunscreens, even if thick layers are applied. The addition of pigments to such sunscreens, however, greatly enhances photoprotection and cosmetic acceptability.

PMID: 1998365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Entrez PubMed

New sunscreens confer improved protection for photosensitive patients in the blue light region.

Moseley H, Cameron H, MacLeod T, Clark C, Dawe R, Ferguson J., Br J Dermatol. 2001 Nov;145(5):789-94.

The Photobiology Unit, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. H.Moseley@dundee.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Some patients with photosensitivity disorders are sensitive to visible radiation. As current commercial sunscreens do not significantly absorb in this region, there is a lack of effective topical photoprotection. To meet this need a new range of sunscreens has been developed incorporating zinc oxide and pigmentary grade titanium dioxide as active ingredients. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of the new sunscreens in providing protection for patients with visible radiation photosensitivity. METHODS: In the first part of this study, an in vitro transmission spectrum was obtained. The properties of the new sunscreens, as well as a range of commercial agents, were compared, and a new parameter, photosensitivity protection factor (PPF), was developed. This was used to predict the likely degree of protection the various sunscreens would provide for patients with photosensitivity extending into the visible region. In the second in vivo part of the study, patients with known visible (blue) light photosensitivity were tested using light at 430 +/- 30 nm and the protection factor (PF) at this wavelength was determined. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD PPFs for the new sunscreens were between 5.4 +/- 0.3 and 9.6 +/- 0.3, compared with 4.1 +/- 0.1 for Sun E45 (sun protection factor, SPF 25) and 4.2 +/- 0.1 for RoC Total (SPF 25). The derived in vivo PF for Sun E45 ranged between 1 and 4 (median 2). For the new sunscreens the range was 3 to > 10 (median 8). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the new sunscreens do provide protection for patients with sensitivity to visible light (blue light region).

PMID: 11736903 PubMed

Durability of the sun protection factor provided by dihydroxyacetone.

Faurschou A, Wulf HC., Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2004 Oct;20(5):239-42.

Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke, University of Copenhagen, 23 DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Fie_Faurschou@hotmail.com

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The sunless tanning agent dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is known to protect against longwave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) and visible light. Recently, our laboratory has shown that DHA in addition offers a modest sun protection factor (SPF) in humans. We conducted this study in order to investigate the durability of the SPF provided by DHA. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were treated with 20% DHA cream twice in three areas on the volar forearm. One, 5 and 7 days after the second application the participants were phototested with simulated sunlight in each area. Blue reflectance was used to measure the skin coloration by DHA in the test sites. RESULTS: DHA generated a significant SPF of 3.0 at day 1, 2.0 at day 5 and 1.7 at day 7 (P<0.0001). The SPF was positively correlated to the change in blue reflectance (r=0.39, P=0.034). The loss of SPF unit/day was not significantly different between the subjects (P<0.122). However, the intercepts were significantly different (P<0.0001) indicating differences in the initial SPF obtained among the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The SPF of DHA decreases with the same loss of SPF unit/day between humans and the durability of the SPF thus depends on the initial SPF provided.

PMID: 15379873 Entrez PubMed

Protection against long ultraviolet and/or visible light with topical dihydroxyacetone. Implications for the mechanism of action of the sunscreen combination, dihydroxyacetone/naphthoquinone.

Fusaro RM, Johnson JA., Dermatologica. 1975;150(6):346-51.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) chemically induces long ultraviolet (UV) and/or visible photoprotection into the stratum corneum as demonstrated by (a) long UV protection of albino rats which were psoralen-photosensitized to black fluorescent light and (b) sunlight protection of five patients with long UV and/or visible photosensitivity. Previously, DHA treatment of skin was considered to provide no protection against UV. For clinical use, the combination of DHA and lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is preferred to DHA alone, because it provides rapid, positive protection over a range extending from short UV into the visible region of sunlight.

PMID: 1201808 PubMed

A study of physical light screening agents.
Macleod TM, Frain-Bell W., Br J Dermatol. 1975 Feb;92(2):149-56.

In those photodermatoses in which the action spectrum involves wavelengths outside the short ultraviolet (i.e. is greater than 320 nm) little protection can be obtained against long UV (is greater than 320 nm) by the application of chemical light screening agents. An action spectrum involving wavelengths is greater than 320 nm is a common occurrence and may necessitate the additional provision of protection from a physical light screening agent. Such a physical agent is titanium dioxide and in a study of its use in a variety of formulations using in vitro techniques it was shown to be effective throughout the wavelengths 400-700 nm. It was also shown to have a satisfactory protective capacity in those photodermatoses in which the action spectrum involves wavelength peaks 365 nm (335-395 nm) and 400 nm (370-430 nm). It also has a reasonable cosmetic acceptability provided care is taken to incorporate in the formulations colouring agents which can be varied to suit the individual patient.

PMID: 1148112 PubMed

Sunscreen protection against UVB, UVA and blue light: an in vivo and in vitro comparison.

Diffey BL, Farr PM., Br J Dermatol. 1991 Mar;124(3):258-63.

Regional Medical Physics Department, Dryburn Hospital, Durham, U.K.

The photoprotection against UVB, UVA and blue light provided by a widely prescribed sunscreen (RoC 15+ A+B) was compared with two new products containing microfine titanium dioxide (Sun E45 lotion SPF 15 and Sun E45 cream SPF 25) [corrected]. Comparisons were made in vivo using photosensitive patients with either chronic actinic dermatitis or erythropoietic protoporphyria, and in vitro using a newly developed spectrophotometric assay. Good agreement was obtained between the in-vivo and in-vitro methods at each waveband. All products showed high protection against UVB radiation, but the products containing microfine titanium dioxide showed significantly higher protection against both UVA and blue light than RoC 15+ A+B. Products containing microfine titanium dioxide are likely to offer superior photoprotection in those patients who are abnormally sensitive to long wavelength ultraviolet radiation than products which are currently available on prescription.

PMID: 1805808 PubMed