Skip to main content
You are here
>>Sunscreen Science Overview
You are here
>>Sunscreen Science Overview
Beyond broad spectrum: The science of sun protection technology
- The importance of breadth of protection, height of protection, and photostability in a sunscreen formulation
- How high SPF sunscreens help compensate for underapplication
"Broad spectrum" doesn't guarantee high UVB and high UVA protection
UVA/UVB protection
- As a result of amendments made to the FDA’s sunscreen monograph, “broad spectrum” protection is mainly defined by critical wavelength*1
- Critical wavelength measures breadth of protection, but not the height (amplitude)
- Critical wavelength test does not require that a broad spectrum sunscreen provide both high UVB and high UVA protection
- Comprehensive sun protection goes beyond critical wavelength and includes a high SPF value to protect against sunburn caused primarily by UVB, a high UVA protection factor, and a photostable formulation for long-term protection
Recommend superior protection with Helioplex® Technology to compensate for underapplication
SPF application density
- Studies suggest that patients routinely underapply sunscreen by 50% to 75%2
- At relevant application dosage, high SPF products maintained superior effectiveness in vivo vs lower SPF products3
- SPF 50 offered significantly greater protection than SPF 30
- SPF 70 offered significantly greater protection than SPF 50
- SPF 100 offered significantly greater protection than SPF 70
References
*The final ruling for labeling and testing was issued in June 2011. FDA required that companies comply with labeling and testing of product to the new monograph by December 2012.
- Labeling and Effectiveness Testing; Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration; 2012.
- Diffey B. and Ferguson J. Assessment of Photoprotective Properties of Sunscreens. In Clinical Guide to Sunscreens and Photoprotection edited by Lim H. and Draelos Z. Informa Healthcare 2009; pp 53-63.
- Ou-Yang H, Stanfield J, Cole C, Appa Y, Rigel D. High-SPF sunscreens (SPF ≥ 70) may provide ultraviolet protection above minimal recommended levels by adequately compensating for lower sunscreen user application amounts. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(6):1220-1227.
Log in using your account with
Welcome back! To access your NeutrogenaMD® account, please enter your username and password and click Sign In.
{* loginWidget *}
Welcome back! To access your NeutrogenaMD® account, please enter your username and password and click Sign In.
{* #userInformationForm *}
{* traditionalSignIn_emailAddress *}
{* traditionalSignIn_password *}
{* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}
{* traditionalSignIn_createButton *}
{* /userInformationForm *}
Welcome back, {* welcomeName *}!
{* loginWidget *}
Welcome back!
{* #userInformationForm *}
{* traditionalSignIn_emailAddress *}
{* traditionalSignIn_password *}
{* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}
{* /userInformationForm *}
All Fields required, unless otherwise indicated
{* #socialRegistrationForm *}
{* socialRegistration_firstName *}
{* socialRegistration_lastName *}
{* socialRegistration_emailAddress *}
{* socialRegistration_password *}
{* socialRegistration_passwordConfirm *}
{* boardCertifiedDermatologist *}
{* profession *}
{* specialty *}
{* stateLicenseNumber *}
{* licensingState *}
{* socialRegistration_address *}
{* socialRegistration_address2 *}
{* socialRegistration_city *}
{* socialRegistration_state *}
{* socialRegistration_zipcode *}
{* socialRegistration_phone *}
{* socialRegistration_mobilePhone *}
{* reasonCode *}
{* socialRegistration_emailAddress *}
Will be used as your user name
{* socialRegistration_zipcode *}
{* customQuestions *}
{* customOptin *}
By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's Privacy Policy.
{* /socialRegistrationForm *}
At this time, we only have samples available for U.S. Board Certified Dermatologists who are not currently supported by a Neutrogena® brand representative. If you are not eligible to order samples, you may still register to receive marketing/educational communications and access to information and resources from NeutrogenaMD®.
Create an account by providing the information below.
{* #registrationForm *}
{* traditionalRegistration_firstName *}
{* traditionalRegistration_lastName *}
{* traditionalRegistration_emailAddress *}
{* traditionalRegistration_password *}
{* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}
{* boardCertifiedDermatologist *}
In order to send samples, we must validate your eligibility. Please ensure that your name, state license number and licensing state exactly match your license.
{* stateLicenseNumber *}
{* licensingState *}
{* profession *}
{* specialty *}
{* traditionalRegistration_address *}
{* traditionalRegistration_address2 *}
{* traditionalRegistration_city *}
{* traditionalRegistration_state *}
{* traditionalRegistration_zipcode *}
{* traditionalRegistration_phone *}
{* reasonCode *}
{* customQuestions *}
{* customOptin *}
By registering, you agree to receive additional transactional, marketing/promotional and sample material from the NeutrogenaMD® website. Your personal information will be used to fulfill your request for samples and/or patient education materials. Your information will be shared only with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., its affiliates, and any third parties working on their behalf to fulfill your request, and will be governed by our site's Privacy Policy.
{* /registrationForm *}
{* #requirementsPostLoginForm *}
{* firstName *}
{* lastName *}
{* zipcode *}
By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's Privacy Policy.
{* saveButton *}
{* /requirementsPostLoginForm *}
All fields required
{* #forgotPasswordForm *}
{* traditionalSignIn_emailAddress *}
{* /forgotPasswordForm *}
Looks like you have an existing account with us. We have made some changes to our site and we need you to create a new password in order to login. Click send to recieve an email with instructions on how to create your new password.
{* #optinUserNewPasswordForm *}
{* optinUser_emailAddress *}
{* /optinUserNewPasswordForm *}
Please check your email for a reset link to continue the reset process.
{* mergeAccounts *}
{* #tradAuthenticateMergeForm *}
{* traditionalSignIn_emailAddress *}
{* mergePassword *}
{* /tradAuthenticateMergeForm *}
{* #privacyPolicyPostLoginForm *}
By clicking "Accept" below, you confirm that you have read, understand and accept our sites's Privacy Policy
{* /privacyPolicyPostLoginForm *}
You do not meet the minimum age requirement to sign in to this site
Register
All Fields required, unless otherwise indicated
Personal Information
Step 1
Account Information
Step 2
Will be used as your user name
Address Information
Step 3
By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's Privacy Policy.