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ANTHELIOS SX has a SPF 15 (SPF means Sun Protection Factor which measures the UVB protection level) and a PFA 15 (PFA means Protection Factor UVA which measures the UVA protection level). Anthelios SX SPF 15, with Mexoryl SX, provides a high level of UVA protection even when compared to sunscreens with higher SPF.

"The SPF value only measures UVB protection. Consequently a higher SPF value does not indicate a higher UVA protection." *

ANTHELIOS SX's high PFA/PPD is due to its active ingredient MEXORYL™ SX, a unique and revolutionary sun filter, in association with a patented stabilization system for Avobenzone. MEXORYL™ SX is the most effective FDA-approved organic filter designed to protect against short UVA rays.

Because of shorter wavelengths, UVB radiations convey photons with a high energy level. As a result, they are biologically very active as reflected by their major involvement in producing acute detrimental effects such as sunburn. UVB radiation also induces pyrimidine dimers in DNA and mutations of the tumor suppressor gene p53 that plays a role in the genesis of actinic keratosis and its transformation to carcinoma when the repair system is overloaded or not functional.

Lower in energy but more numerous than UVB rays, UVA rays are far from being innocuous. We are exposed to them as soon as the sun rises, whereas the UVB rays reach a sharp peak between midday and 4 pm (in summer time). Furthermore, UVA rays penetrate deeper through the skin and have a major contribution in dermal damage.

The visible damaging effects of UVA radiation only appear after years of exposure: evidence suggests that they are responsible for much of the early signs of photoaging. Because they penetrate deep into the skin, UVA rays have far-reaching effects including the potential to impair elastin fibers and collagen bundles. The main consequences are tissue slackening, loss of skin firmness and increase appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In L'Oréal Research laboratories, researchers have demonstrated that in vitro reconstructed skin is a powerful tool to assess the effects of UV radiation and thereby to demonstrate the benefits of sunscreen against specific UVA and UVB damage. (Bernerd F et al (2000); Bernerd F et al (1998))

Unlike UVB radiation, UVA radiation does not cause any immediate perceptible clinical damage allowing higher cumulative doses of UVA radiation to impact the skin without any warning signal. That's why their action is more insidious and needs to be taken into account very seriously. (Seité S, et al (1997))

Conclusion: an efficient protection against UVA radiation is a pivotal complement to anti-erythema protection to prevent skin from high detrimental effects of daily sun exposure. A broad spectrum UV protection is a prime requirement on the way towards providing a most appropriate skin care product.

New generation products need to provide effective protection throughout the UV range of the sun radiation reaching the earth level not only to sunbathers, but also to skin care products for daily use and exposure where UVA radiation is a major actor whatever the season. As the Skin Cancer Foundation says, "every days exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damage dose of the sun".

Take into consideration activities such as driving to work everyday, walking to and from your car, home, office, etc that could result in a 1/2 hour of "exposure" per day. Adding this up over the course of a working year, assuming 50 weeks of work, one accrues about 125h of UV exposure. While this may not all be in a direct sunlight at noon in Arizona, it shows clearly how this intermittent/incidental exposure can add up and add up quickly. (Lentini P.J. (2005)) Further to this, recent research from a variety of sources demonstrate the insidious accumulated damage from suberythemal UV exposure than a single high dose.

Studies have shown that the daily use of sunscreen reduces the skin damage produced by UV exposure (Phillips T.J., et al (2000), Seité, et al. (2006)) The problem is now to define the relevant SPF and UVA-PF levels required to prevent premature skin aging.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 for basic protection year-round. AAD New York May 3, 2004. The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends the use of a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher in a year-round protection.

Data suggest that UVA radiation may be important in photoaging and that the use of low SPF, broadspectrum sunscreens on a day-to-day basis may offer some protection from solar photoaging (Harrison JA, and al. (1991); Seité S, et al. (1997); Seité S, et al.(1998) Seité S, et al. (1999))

Fourtanier A. and al. (2005) have shown that despite a similar SPF value, a lower UVA -PF product appears significantly less efficient. Data suggests that well-balanced, photostable sunscreens absorbing over the entire UV spectrum of sun radiation are able to safely maintain unaltered the essential biological functions. In addition the importance of the proportionality of UVA to UVB was addressed by the AAD: the AAD recommends that an increase in the SPF of a sunscreen must be accompanied by a proportional increase in the UVA protection.

Since the AAD recommends at least an SPF 15 for your Daily Use product, and balanced UVB/UVA protection is best, we can conclude that a balanced protection 15 SPF (UVB)/PFA (UVA) would be an optimal daily use sunscreen.

To evaluate UVA protection, the following studies were conducted, in addition to studies evaluating the contribution of each active ingredient by the PPD Method (study number PEN.910.02):

• A well-controlled pivotal Phase III study for the Determination of the UVA Protection Factor Utilizing the Minimal Persistent Pigment Darkening Dose (PPD) Method (Study PEN.910.01).
• One in vitro efficacy study to estimate the degree of UVA protection using the critical wavelength spectrophotometric method (modified Diffey) (Study S01-020).
• One in vitro efficacy study following modified Diffey methodology, conducted on ANTHELIOS SX moisturizing sunscreen cream to assess the degree of UVA/UVB protection and to demonstrate the additive contribution of each active ingredient to the overall protection potential (Study D20041030).

UVA Protection Factor determination for ANTHELIOS SX daily moisturizing cream with sunscreen using the Persistent Pigment Darkening Method (PPD)

In Vitro ANTHELIOS SX moisturizing sunscreen cream supportive studies: Critical Wavelength (Diffey Method - S01-0205)

ANTHELIOS SX moisturizing sunscreen cream scored in the highest category demonstrating that this product provides a continuous level of photoprotection across the entire UVA and UVB spectrum.

In Vitro ANTHELIOS SX moisturizing sunscreen cream supportive studies: Spectrophotometric Curves

This study was conducted to demonstrate the contribution of each active ingredient in accordance with FDA policy.

Each sunscreen in incremental concentrations clearly contributed to the in vitro UVR protection, both in the UVB range and the UVA range. The UV absorption spectra of octocrylene, avobenzone and ecamsule (Mexoryl™ SX) showed the continuous and broad spectrum absorbance of the chosen sunscreen active ingredients in the selected combination.

Fourtanier A., et al. Protection of skin biological targets by different types of sunscreens. Photodermatol Photoimmunol. Photomed 2005; 21: 1-11

Gasparro FP. A review of sunscreen safety and efficacy. Photochem Photobiol. 1998; 68(3):243-56

Harrison JA, Walker SL, Plastow SR, Batt MD, Hawk JL, Young AR. Sunscreens with low sun protection factor inhibit ultraviolet B and A photoaging in the skin of the hairless albino mouse.Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1991; (1):12-20

Lentini P.J. Daily use sunscreens. Sunscreens regulations and commercial development. 2005. Edited by Nadim A. Shaat

Phillips T.J., Bhawan J., Yaar M., Bello I., LoPiccolo D., Nash J.F. Effect of daily versus intermittent sunscreen application on solar simulated UV radiation-induced skin response in humans. J. Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 43: 610-8

Seité S, Medaisko C, Christiaens F, Bredoux C, Compan D, Zucchi H, Lombard D, Fourtanier, A; Biological effects of simulated ultraviolet daylight: a new approach to investigate daily photoprotection ; Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2006; 22: 67-77

Seité, S., D. Moyal, S. Richard, J. de Rigal, J. L. Leveque, C. Hourseau, and A. Fourtanier (1998) Mexoryl SX: a broad absorption UVA filter protects human skin from the effects of repeated suberythemal doses of UVA. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 44, 69-76

Seité, S., D. Moyal, S. Richard, J. de Rigal, J.-L. Lévêque, C. Hourseau, and A. M. A. Fourtanier (1997) Effects of repeated suberythemal doses of UVA in human skin. Eur. J. Dermatol. 7, 204-209

Seité, S., S. Tison-Régnier, F. J. Christiaens, M.-P. Verdier, P. Piquemal, C. Montastier, and A. M. A. Fourtanier (1999) Effects of repeated low doses of solar simulated UVR in human. Comparison with photoaged skin. In Protection of the skin against ultraviolet radiations.(Edited by A. Rougier and H. Schaefer), pp. 59-72. John Libbey Eurotext, Paris.