titanum dioxide
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
After reviewing multiple literatures on physical barrier titanium dioxide, all evidences supported its the efficacy, safety and convenience. Similar to zinc oxide, titanium dioxide protects your skin from harmful UV rays by blocking and deflecting UV radiation. Titanium dioxide provides protection immediately upon application against UV rays (290 – 340 nm). It has good UVB protection, but not full UVA protection. Longer wavelength UVA radiation is responsible for photoaging, phototoxicity, reduced skin protection function and increased risk of skin cancer. Hence titanium dioxide should be used in combination with other active ingredients to provide full UVA and UVB coverage.
Titanium dioxide is generally stable, safe to use (infants > 6 months) and unlikely to cause irritation in comparison to chemical sunscreen ingredients. However titanium dioxide may clog pores and cause or worsen acne, which can be problematic for some individual. The newer micronized titanium dioxide sunscreen products currently available on market are much more cosmetically appealing compare to older generation, yet they tend to leave a white cast or tinting and may be harder to apply compare to chemical sunscreen products. In conclusion, zinc oxide containing sunscreen product is recommended over titanium oxide due to its broader UV spectrum and better cosmetic properties. Nevertheless titanium oxide is recommended over chemical sunscreen products especially for young children’s sensitive skin.
References:
After reviewing multiple literatures on physical barrier titanium dioxide, all evidences supported its the efficacy, safety and convenience. Similar to zinc oxide, titanium dioxide protects your skin from harmful UV rays by blocking and deflecting UV radiation. Titanium dioxide provides protection immediately upon application against UV rays (290 – 340 nm). It has good UVB protection, but not full UVA protection. Longer wavelength UVA radiation is responsible for photoaging, phototoxicity, reduced skin protection function and increased risk of skin cancer. Hence titanium dioxide should be used in combination with other active ingredients to provide full UVA and UVB coverage.
Titanium dioxide is generally stable, safe to use (infants > 6 months) and unlikely to cause irritation in comparison to chemical sunscreen ingredients. However titanium dioxide may clog pores and cause or worsen acne, which can be problematic for some individual. The newer micronized titanium dioxide sunscreen products currently available on market are much more cosmetically appealing compare to older generation, yet they tend to leave a white cast or tinting and may be harder to apply compare to chemical sunscreen products. In conclusion, zinc oxide containing sunscreen product is recommended over titanium oxide due to its broader UV spectrum and better cosmetic properties. Nevertheless titanium oxide is recommended over chemical sunscreen products especially for young children’s sensitive skin.
References:
- 1. Thompson P. Patient Self-Care. 2nd ed. Chapter 64: Prevention and Treatment of Sun-Induced Skin Damage. Canadian Pharmacists Association 2010
2. Beasley DG, Meyer TA. Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11(6):413-421
3. Burnett ME, Wang SQ. Current sunscreen controversies: a critical review. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2011;27(2):58-67
4. Hexsel CL, Bangert SD, Hebert AA, Lim HW. Current sunscreen issues: 2007 Food and Drug Administration sunscreen labelling recommendations and combination sunscreen/insect repellent products. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59(2):316-23
5. Guenther L, Skin Disorders: Sunburn. e-Therapeutics. Retrieved from: https://www.e-therapeutics.ca/tc.showChapter.action?documentId=c0065 on June 26 2014