Nothing to See but Also Nothing to Hide: An Evaluation of the Skin Penetration Enhancing Capability of Nanooartieles Used in Sunscreens

摘要

To minimize the visibility of the inorganic sun filter, nanoparticles in the 35-5Onm range with a narrow size distribution have been employed for more than 10 to 20 years, depending on the filter. While 'nano' stood for something exceptionally good and active about a decade ago, the public opinion on anything 'nano' has drastically changed. Reports by self-declared experts on the internet claim that nanoparticles in sun care products penetrate human skin with dangerous consequences for human health. Regulatory bodies in Europe, despite decisive statements on the suitability of such particles in cosmetics, even make the labeling of the presence of nano-sized materials compulsory from 2013 onwards, so that the consumer can make a well-informed choice whether or not to use such products. This suggests that there is indeed an issue with nano-sized particles in cosmetics. This is strengthened by the fact that sunscreen manufacturers are not all helpful in providing information on whether their products do indeed contain nanoparticles.