ABSTRACT
Electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, ultraviolet (UV), and visible spectra can produce deleterious and/or aesthetically undesirable effects in the skin, making adequate photoprotection of utmost importance. The deleterious effects of UVA and UVB necessitate the development of cosmeceuticals with protection against wavelengths of light ranging from 290 to 400 nm. Organic filters are benzene ring-containing compounds that absorb UV radiation, resulting in excitation of electrons to a higher energy state. The energy is then released in the form of heat or fluorescent radiation, which may inactivate or degrade the organic filter if it is not adequately photostabilized. While organic filters are typically well tolerated, they are known to cause photoallergic reactions, which may limit their use in some patients. OB is the most common photoallergen in sunscreen products, implicated in 70.2% of positive patch tests to sunscreens from 2001 to 2010.
