geographical location in which the study was conducted (Los Angeles versus Washington, DC) was not a strong contributing factor to any of the observed differences. However, the histological findings in this study are limited by the small number of biopsies obtained.
In summary, this 12-month study on long-term persistent use of an SPF30/PPD20 sunscreen on phototype IV and V subjects demonstrated significant improvement in skin quality and improvement in skin color and photoaging parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first study of this kind in skin of color and Hispanic population. This study confirms that effective sunscreen use is not only protective and beneficial for light skin population but is also critical in improving skin condition for skin of color patients. Overall, the study demonstrates that daily use of sunscreen can protect skin from photo related damage and even reverse some of the photo-damage that has already occurred in skin. In addition to previous studies that demonstrated the photo-protective properties of sunscreen use in normal and diseased skin states7,8,9,10 and in view of the fact that good photoprotection behaviors are not common among Hispanics,14,15,16 studies of this type can help educate and stress the importance of daily use of sunscreen and other sun protection behaviors in Hispanic and other skin of color populations.
In summary, this 12-month study on long-term persistent use of an SPF30/PPD20 sunscreen on phototype IV and V subjects demonstrated significant improvement in skin quality and improvement in skin color and photoaging parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first study of this kind in skin of color and Hispanic population. This study confirms that effective sunscreen use is not only protective and beneficial for light skin population but is also critical in improving skin condition for skin of color patients. Overall, the study demonstrates that daily use of sunscreen can protect skin from photo related damage and even reverse some of the photo-damage that has already occurred in skin. In addition to previous studies that demonstrated the photo-protective properties of sunscreen use in normal and diseased skin states7,8,9,10 and in view of the fact that good photoprotection behaviors are not common among Hispanics,14,15,16 studies of this type can help educate and stress the importance of daily use of sunscreen and other sun protection behaviors in Hispanic and other skin of color populations.
DISCLOSURES
The authors state that there is no conflict of interest. This research
is sponsored by L’Oreal Research & Innovation.
REFERENCES
1. Colby SL, Ortman JM. Projections of the Size and Composition of the U.S. Population: 2014 to 2060. March, 2015. https://www.census.gov/content/ dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p25-1143.pdf.
2. Grimes P, Boyd C, Alexis A, Downie J, Kolodziejczyk J, Gallagher C. Self-reported characteristics associated with the signs of facial aging by race/ethnic group and Fitzpatrick skin type among a diverse, multinational sample. 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2016.
3. Alexis AF, Obioha O. Ethnicity and Aging skin, J Drugs in Dermatol. 2017;16: s77–80.
4. Perez MI. Skin cancer in Hispanics in the United States. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18: s117-120.
5. Gilchrest BA. Skin aging and photoaging: an overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21: 610–613.
6. Sambandan DR, Ratner D. Sunscreens: an overview and update. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64: 748–58.
7. Boyd AS, Naylor M, Cameron GS, Pearse AD, Gaskell SA, Neldner KH. The effects of chronic sunscreen use on the histologic changes of dermatoheliosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;33: 941–946.
8. Naylor MF, Boyd A, Smith DW, Cameron GS, Hubbard D, Neldner KH. High sun protection factor sunscreens in the suppression of actinic neoplasia. Arch Dermatol. 1995;131: 170–175.
9. Kligman LH, Akin FJ, Kligman AM. Sunscreens promote repair of ultraviolet radiation-induced dermal damage. J Invest Dermatol. 1983; 81:98–102.
10. Randhawa M, Wang S, Leyden JJ, Cula GO, Pagnoni A, Southall MD. Daily Use of a Facial Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Over One-Year Significantly Improves Clinical Evaluation of Photoaging. Dermatol Surg. 2016; 42: 1354- 1361.
11. Sarkar R, Garg VK, Jain A, Agarwal D, Wagle A, Flament F, Verschoore M. A randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of two sunscreen formulations on Indian skin types IV and V with pigmentation irregularities. Ind. J. Dematol. Venerol. Leprol. 2019; 85: 160-164.
12. Halder R, Rodney I, Munhutu M, Foltis P, Battie C, Verschoore M, Oresajo C. Evaluation and effectiveness of a photoprotection composition on subjects of skin of color. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015; 72: AB215.
13. Andreeva VA, Unger JB, Yaroch AL, Cockburn MG, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Reynolds KD. Acculturation and sun-safe behaviors among US latinos: findings from the 2005 health information national trends survey. Am J Public Health. 2009; 99:734–741.
14. Coups EJ, Stapleton JL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Natale-Pereira A, Goydos JS. Sun protection and exposure behaviors among Hispanic adults in the United States: Differences according to acculturation and among Hispanic subgroups. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12, 985-993.
15. Coups EJ, Stapleton JL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Rosenberg SA, Gordon M. Linguistic acculturation and skin cancer-related behaviors among Hispanics in the southern and western United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2013; 149: 679–686.
16. Coups EJ, Stapleton J, Manne SL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Rosenberg S. Gordon M, Tatum KS, Robinson JK, Natale-Pereira A, Goydos JS. Psychosocial correlates of sun protection behaviors among U.S. Hispanic adults. J Behav Med. 2014; 37:1082-1090.
17. Maddin S, Lauharanta J, Agache P, Burrows L. Isotretinoin improves the appearance of photodamaged skin: results of a 36-week, multicenter, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000; 42: 56–63.
18. Kang S, Krueger GG, Tanghetti EA, Lew-Kaya D, et al. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of tazarotene 0.1% cream in the treatment of photodamage. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 52: 268–274.
19. Herndon JH, Makino ET, Jiang LI, Stephens TJ, Mehta RC. Long term, multiproduct facial regimen in subjects with moderate to severe photodamage and hyperpigmentation. Clinical Aesthetic Dermatol. 2015; 8: 16-21.
20. Flament F, Qiu H. Effects of seasonality and a daily photo-protection upon some facial signs of Chinese women. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2017; 39: 256-268.
21. Del Bino S, Bernerd F. Variations in skin colour and the biological consequences of UV radiation exposure. Br J Dermatol. 2013; 169: 33-40.
22. Battie C, Jitsukawa S, Bernerd F, del Bino S, Marionnet C, Verschoore M. New insights in photoaging, UV induced damage and skin types. Exp. Dermatol. 2014; 23: 7-12.
23. Brenner M, Hearing VJ. The protective role of melanin against UV damage in human skin. Photochem. Photobiol. 2008; 84: 539-549.
24. Silpa-Archa N, Kohli I, Chaowattanapanit S, Lim HW, Hamzavi I. Proinflammatory hyperpigmentation: A comprehensive Overview Epidemology, pathogenesis, chinical presentation and non-invasive assessment techniques. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017; 77: 591-605.
2. Grimes P, Boyd C, Alexis A, Downie J, Kolodziejczyk J, Gallagher C. Self-reported characteristics associated with the signs of facial aging by race/ethnic group and Fitzpatrick skin type among a diverse, multinational sample. 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2016.
3. Alexis AF, Obioha O. Ethnicity and Aging skin, J Drugs in Dermatol. 2017;16: s77–80.
4. Perez MI. Skin cancer in Hispanics in the United States. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18: s117-120.
5. Gilchrest BA. Skin aging and photoaging: an overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21: 610–613.
6. Sambandan DR, Ratner D. Sunscreens: an overview and update. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64: 748–58.
7. Boyd AS, Naylor M, Cameron GS, Pearse AD, Gaskell SA, Neldner KH. The effects of chronic sunscreen use on the histologic changes of dermatoheliosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;33: 941–946.
8. Naylor MF, Boyd A, Smith DW, Cameron GS, Hubbard D, Neldner KH. High sun protection factor sunscreens in the suppression of actinic neoplasia. Arch Dermatol. 1995;131: 170–175.
9. Kligman LH, Akin FJ, Kligman AM. Sunscreens promote repair of ultraviolet radiation-induced dermal damage. J Invest Dermatol. 1983; 81:98–102.
10. Randhawa M, Wang S, Leyden JJ, Cula GO, Pagnoni A, Southall MD. Daily Use of a Facial Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Over One-Year Significantly Improves Clinical Evaluation of Photoaging. Dermatol Surg. 2016; 42: 1354- 1361.
11. Sarkar R, Garg VK, Jain A, Agarwal D, Wagle A, Flament F, Verschoore M. A randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of two sunscreen formulations on Indian skin types IV and V with pigmentation irregularities. Ind. J. Dematol. Venerol. Leprol. 2019; 85: 160-164.
12. Halder R, Rodney I, Munhutu M, Foltis P, Battie C, Verschoore M, Oresajo C. Evaluation and effectiveness of a photoprotection composition on subjects of skin of color. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015; 72: AB215.
13. Andreeva VA, Unger JB, Yaroch AL, Cockburn MG, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Reynolds KD. Acculturation and sun-safe behaviors among US latinos: findings from the 2005 health information national trends survey. Am J Public Health. 2009; 99:734–741.
14. Coups EJ, Stapleton JL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Natale-Pereira A, Goydos JS. Sun protection and exposure behaviors among Hispanic adults in the United States: Differences according to acculturation and among Hispanic subgroups. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12, 985-993.
15. Coups EJ, Stapleton JL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Rosenberg SA, Gordon M. Linguistic acculturation and skin cancer-related behaviors among Hispanics in the southern and western United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2013; 149: 679–686.
16. Coups EJ, Stapleton J, Manne SL, Hudson SV, Medina-Forrester A, Rosenberg S. Gordon M, Tatum KS, Robinson JK, Natale-Pereira A, Goydos JS. Psychosocial correlates of sun protection behaviors among U.S. Hispanic adults. J Behav Med. 2014; 37:1082-1090.
17. Maddin S, Lauharanta J, Agache P, Burrows L. Isotretinoin improves the appearance of photodamaged skin: results of a 36-week, multicenter, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000; 42: 56–63.
18. Kang S, Krueger GG, Tanghetti EA, Lew-Kaya D, et al. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of tazarotene 0.1% cream in the treatment of photodamage. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 52: 268–274.
19. Herndon JH, Makino ET, Jiang LI, Stephens TJ, Mehta RC. Long term, multiproduct facial regimen in subjects with moderate to severe photodamage and hyperpigmentation. Clinical Aesthetic Dermatol. 2015; 8: 16-21.
20. Flament F, Qiu H. Effects of seasonality and a daily photo-protection upon some facial signs of Chinese women. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2017; 39: 256-268.
21. Del Bino S, Bernerd F. Variations in skin colour and the biological consequences of UV radiation exposure. Br J Dermatol. 2013; 169: 33-40.
22. Battie C, Jitsukawa S, Bernerd F, del Bino S, Marionnet C, Verschoore M. New insights in photoaging, UV induced damage and skin types. Exp. Dermatol. 2014; 23: 7-12.
23. Brenner M, Hearing VJ. The protective role of melanin against UV damage in human skin. Photochem. Photobiol. 2008; 84: 539-549.
24. Silpa-Archa N, Kohli I, Chaowattanapanit S, Lim HW, Hamzavi I. Proinflammatory hyperpigmentation: A comprehensive Overview Epidemology, pathogenesis, chinical presentation and non-invasive assessment techniques. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017; 77: 591-605.
AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE
Qian Zheng MD PhD qian.zheng@rd.loreal.com
