COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FORMULATIONS OF SOLAR PROTECTION FACTOR FROM COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES BY USING SIMULATION TOOLS

Abstract

The importance of sunscreen has been widely disseminated. There are many options of compound sunscreen formulations, including a range of Sun Protection Factor (SPF), all of them available in market for photoprotection. At the moment of purchase the product, several questions and controversies emerge; mostly concerning about protection factor: is it optimal and sufficient to minimize the effects of ultraviolet radiation? Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate formulations of photoprotector products from compounding pharmacies, about sun protection factor effectiveness. Six formulations, purchased at compounding pharmacies in São Paulo State, were tested. The results showed discrepancies between the labeling and the effectiveness in some compound sunscreen tested, which can be harmful to human health. Also, some formulations have not reached the designed SPF and the degree of UVA protection, based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) method, compared to the minimum required in the Brazilian legislation (RDC #30 of 1 June 2012). Considering that the photoprotection is importante to prevent the effects of ultraviolet radiation, it was concluded that a more rigorous quality control in the production of sunscreens is needed.