Only six of 59 commercially available sunscreens met the critical wavelength standard of +/-370 nm to establish efficacy against UVA light in a study conducted by Brian Diffey, Newcastle General Hospital, England, et al., and published in the December Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Only six of 59 commercially available sunscreens met the critical wavelength standard of +/-370 nm to establish efficacy against UVA light in a study conducted by Brian Diffey, Newcastle General Hospital, England, et al., and published in the December Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Company developing in vitro UVA sunscreen testing method to validate in vivo Persistent Pigment Darkening assay, the company tells FDA in a recent letter reiterating its preference for the PPD method in measuring UVA protection levels. Having both validated methods "should accurately and quantitatively measure the corresponding protection benefits," L'Oreal says. The company also voices its support for separate UVA and UVB labeling; FDA is considering leaving SPF as the primary indicator of sunscreen protection (1"The Rose Sheet" Feb. 14, p. 6)