Home / Health / New Sunscreen Vanishes White Cast for All Skin Tones
New Sunscreen Vanishes White Cast for All Skin Tones
6 Feb
Summary
- UCLA researchers developed a new mineral sunscreen using tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide.
- The tetrapod shape prevents clumping, eliminating the chalky white appearance.
- This innovation aims to improve consistent sunscreen use for better skin cancer prevention.
A groundbreaking mineral sunscreen developed at UCLA addresses the persistent problem of a visible white or gray cast on the skin. Traditional mineral sunscreens often leave a chalky film due to the clumping of round zinc oxide particles, which is particularly noticeable on darker skin tones.
Scientists at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have engineered a solution by using a patented process to create microscopic, four-armed structures, known as 'tetrapods,' from zinc oxide. This unique shape prevents the particles from packing tightly together.
Instead, the tetrapods form a porous, mesh-like network that spreads evenly across the skin. This structural innovation not only eliminates the undesirable white cast but also maintains strong protection against harmful UV rays, achieving an SPF of 30 in laboratory tests.
Senior study author Paul Weiss emphasized that the improvement is not solely cosmetic. He stated that if making sunscreen look better leads to more consistent application, it could significantly impact skin cancer prevention efforts. The team hopes this innovation will be a game-changer, particularly for individuals with darker skin who are more often diagnosed with late-stage melanoma.
