Suppression of UV-induced damage by a liposomal sunscreen: a prospective, open-label study in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus and healthy controls.

This study aimed to determine whether a broad-spectrum liposomal sunscreen with a very high sun protection factor (Daylong actinica) can prevent damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and healthy controls (HCs) under standardised conditions. In 20 patients with CLE and 10 HCs, defined areas of sunscreen-untreated and sunscreen-treated skin on the upper back were irradiated with combined UVA/UVB light. Disease-specific skin lesions were induced by UVA/UVB light in the untreated areas of nine patients with CLE; no specific eruptions or any sun damage was observed in the sunscreen-treated areas in any of the CLE patients, nor in the HCs. Histological analysis of skin biopsy specimens confirmed the clinical results. In conclusion, the use of a high-protection, broad-spectrum sunscreen can prevent UV-induced damage in patients with CLE and HCs.