An Assessment of Sun Protection Factor in Moisturizers with UV-Filter Marketed in Bangkok, Thailand - การประเมินค่า Sun Protection Factor ของผลิตภัณฑ์บำรุงผิวที่มีสารป้องกันแสงแดด ที่จำหน่ายในกรุงเทพมหานคร

Abstract

        Moisturizers with UV-filter are one of the most consumed products among Thai women due to high level of sun exposure and white skin obsession. The objective of this study was to assess the level of sun protection factor (SPF) in moisturizers available over counter in Bangkok in order to compare the actual values with the SPF level specified on the label. Thirty-eight products with labeled SPF of 30 or more and manufactures within 6-12 months were evaluated with Optometrics SPF 290S Analyzer. It
was found that most products contained combinations of UV filters, up to 8 items. All the filters were in line with the list specified in the Thailand’s Cosmetic Act B.E. 1989; and the concentration of each filter did not exceed the control level. The most common UV-filters were titanium dioxide,
ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane which were the ingredients of 78.9%, 68.4% และ 47.4% of the samples, respectively. As for the SPF, only 42.1% of the samples had the SPF value equal to or over the labeled figure; and majority of them were produced in Thailand. Based on the findings, the Cosmetic Committee of the Ministry of Public Health agreed to issue an order requiring putting SPF value on the label of all sun protection moisturizers so as to ensure the efficacy of the products.
Key words: moisturizer with UV-filter, sun protection factor, titanium dioxide, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane