Marc Rocholl1,2, Patricia Weinert3, Stephan Bielfeldt4, Sabrina Laing4, Klaus Peter Wilhelm4, Claas Ulrich5, Swen Malte John6,3. 1. Institute for Health Research and Education, Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany. mrocholl@uni-osnabrueck.de. 2. Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatological Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm) at the University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany. mrocholl@uni-osnabrueck.de. 3. Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatological Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm) at the University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany. 4. proDERM Institute of Applied Dermatological Research GmbH, Kiebitzweg 2, 22869, Schenefeld, Hamburg, Germany. 5. Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Skin Cancer Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. 6. Institute for Health Research and Education, Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Outdoor workers (OW) are highly exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and thus at increased risk for developing skin cancer. An essential part of an overall strategy to reduce workplace UVR-exposure to OW's skin is the usage of sunscreens. However, compliance with regular sunscreen usage seems to be low, as products are usually designed for recreational sun exposure and thus do not meet the requirements of physically active OW. To date, no standardized test procedures assess the suitability of sunscreens for professional use. The aim of this pilot study was to develop standardized methods of testing secondary performance attributes (PA) to represent real-life working conditions of outdoor work. METHODS: Ten sunscreen products, carefully selected after a detailed market survey of all relevant producers available on the German market, were evaluated regarding their suitability for professional outdoor work on 24 healthy volunteers in a newly designed test procedure. In addition to three standardized efficacy characteristics, i.e., sun protection factor, water-resistance, and UVA protection, we evaluated each PA involving parameters typically associated with outdoor workplaces. RESULTS: We developed standardized methods for objectifying the suitability of sunscreen products for professional outdoor work. The test procedures used are well feasible and appropriate for testing the PA because they represent practical working conditions in detail - although the degree of discriminability of single test methods varied. The claimed sun protection factor (SPF) of the products was confirmed; bio-stability of the SPF after physical activity was achieved in most cases. While most products hardly irritate the eyes and are quickly absorbed, the evaluation of the subjective skin feeling and non-slip grip is inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, for the first time secondary PA are defined and examined. Although further objectification of the PA assessment as well as the establishment of minimum standards should be sought, the new methods could already complement the so far mandatory labels and in this way provide a significant impetus for the current scientific and political focus on the improvement of occupational health in highly UVR-exposed OW.
BACKGROUND: Outdoor workers (OW) are highly exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and thus at increased risk for developing skin cancer. An essential part of an overall strategy to reduce workplace UVR-exposure to OW's skin is the usage of sunscreens. However, compliance with regular sunscreen usage seems to be low, as products are usually designed for recreational sun exposure and thus do not meet the requirements of physically active OW. To date, no standardized test procedures assess the suitability of sunscreens for professional use. The aim of this pilot study was to develop standardized methods of testing secondary performance attributes (PA) to represent real-life working conditions of outdoor work. METHODS: Ten sunscreen products, carefully selected after a detailed market survey of all relevant producers available on the German market, were evaluated regarding their suitability for professional outdoor work on 24 healthy volunteers in a newly designed test procedure. In addition to three standardized efficacy characteristics, i.e., sun protection factor, water-resistance, and UVA protection, we evaluated each PA involving parameters typically associated with outdoor workplaces. RESULTS: We developed standardized methods for objectifying the suitability of sunscreen products for professional outdoor work. The test procedures used are well feasible and appropriate for testing the PA because they represent practical working conditions in detail - although the degree of discriminability of single test methods varied. The claimed sun protection factor (SPF) of the products was confirmed; bio-stability of the SPFafter physical activity was achieved in most cases. While most products hardly irritate the eyes and are quickly absorbed, the evaluation of the subjective skin feeling and non-slip grip is inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, for the first time secondary PA are defined and examined. Although further objectification of the PA assessment as well as the establishment of minimum standards should be sought, the new methods could already complement the so far mandatory labels and in this way provide a significant impetus for the current scientific and political focus on the improvement of occupational health in highly UVR-exposed OW.
Authors: J Schmitt; E Haufe; F Trautmann; H-J Schulze; P Elsner; H Drexler; A Bauer; S Letzel; S M John; M Fartasch; T Brüning; A Seidler; S Dugas-Breit; M Gina; W Weistenhöfer; K Bachmann; I Bruhn; B M Lang; S Bonness; J P Allam; W Grobe; T Stange; S Westerhausen; P Knuschke; M Wittlich; T L Diepgen Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2018-01-15 Impact factor: 9.302
Authors: Horatiu Remus Moldovan; Marc Wittlich; Swen Malte John; Richard Brans; George Sorin Tiplica; Carmen Salavastru; Septimiu Toader Voidazan; Radu Corneliu Duca; Ecaterina Fugulyan; Gyopar Horvath; Andrei Alexa; Alexandra Irina Butacu Journal: Environ Res Date: 2019-11-27 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Jochen Schmitt; Eva Haufe; Freya Trautmann; Hans-Joachim Schulze; Peter Elsner; Hans Drexler; Andrea Bauer; Stephan Letzel; Swen Malte John; Manigé Fartasch; Thomas Brüning; Andreas Seidler; Susanne Dugas-Breit; Michal Gina; Wobbeke Weistenhöfer; Klaus Bachmann; Ilka Bruhn; Berenice Mareen Lang; Sonja Bonness; Jean Pierre Allam; William Grobe; Thoralf Stange; Stephan Westerhausen; Peter Knuschke; Marc Wittlich; Thomas Ludwig Diepgen Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: M Wittlich; S M John; G S Tiplica; C M Sălăvăstru; A I Butacu; A Modenese; V Paolucci; G D'Hauw; F Gobba; P Sartorelli; J Macan; J Kovačić; K Grandahl; H Moldovan Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2020-03-10 Impact factor: 6.166
Authors: A Bauer; E Haufe; L Heinrich; A Seidler; H J Schulze; P Elsner; H Drexler; S Letzel; S M John; M Fartasch; T Brüning; S Dugas-Breit; M Gina; W Weistenhöfer; K Bachmann; I Bruhn; B M Lang; R Brans; J P Allam; W Grobe; S Westerhausen; P Knuschke; M Wittlich; T L Diepgen; J Schmitt Journal: J Occup Med Toxicol Date: 2020-09-10 Impact factor: 2.646