Glass Particle Enclosed Sunscreen?

[sheellah]

This might be the answer to getting a high level of protection without chemicals and micronized minerals entering the skin. It looks really interesting. Here's are some excerpts from the site.

SGT’s first products are inert glass micro particles that can tightly encase high concentrations of sunscreen molecules within a thin shell of inert sol-gel glass. Several patent applications have been submitted to protect SGT’s unique process and its implementation for sunscreens and other applications. SGT has established a production plant in Bet Shemesh, Israel, and is presently manufacture its first product (called “UV-Pearls”) utilizing its novel glass micro particles.

SGT is now capitalizing on its acquired unique technology and know-how in order to both stabilize other essential active ingredients, and ensure their entrapment with the aim of either preventing any contact of these ingredients with body tissues (e.g., sunscreens with the skin) or with the aim of sustained/targeted release (e.g. Vitamin A).

solgel.com/biz/featcom/solgel.asp

Would appreciate any comments on this. If these micro particles don't enter the skin themselves, it seems it would be the perfect sunscreen.

[gaoli]

Hello Sheellah

Your post intrigued me so I did some searching; this technology is available already in two sunscreens on the market. Unfortunately the UVA protection is a little on the low side in both, but I think they'd be worth looking at for sensitive skin and of course anyone wanting to use make-up won't have to worry about chemical conflicts there.

Here's a page on Merck who have used this to make a SS ingredient called UV-PearlsTM
URL merck.de/servlet/PB/menu/1233220/index.html

UV-PearlsTM is the active in Isomer's SS
sunscreen with UV pearls SPF20
URL isomers.ca/skincare-2-SunscreenSPF20.html
"This new system of encapsulation, that stays on top of the skin, makes this sunscreen a desirable formulation. This sunscreen offers maximum protection without penetrating the skin, allowing it to be used on all skin types, including sensitive or allergic skin.
SPF 20.
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 8%, Octyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%,"

Unfortunately, I don't think the active ingredients on this one are going to give very high UVA protection - I'd imagine PPD 8-10

Then I saw a news announcement claiming that Bioderma were introducing sunscreens with this technology and I believe it's this one, although it's not so explicit.

Bioderma SPF 40 UVA 10 Photoderm KID / SPE

Properties
Photoderm SPE = Spray with Encapsulated Particles.
Very high photoprotection with particles, ideal for the delicate skin.

Ingredients NEW 2006 Formula
Water (Aqua), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclomethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M), PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Disostearate, Sodium Chloride, Alumina, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Stearic Acid, Silica, Decyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, PVP, Xanthan Gum, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4 Laurate, Trilinolein, Propylene Glycol, PEG-4, Citric Acid, Trilinolenin, Triolein, Tripalmitin, Tristearin, BHT, Chlorphenesin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben,"

The ingredients in this one are completely different to the rest of the Bioderma Photoderm range and it's UVA protection is stated at 10, much lower than the others, which are about 27-35.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone tried these.

gaoli

[sheellah]

Gaoli, I believe the sunscreens can be made with a higher SPF. There are several versions of the pearls both for liquid suspension, and for powders. I wonder if they can be added to mineral powders. I will be looking forward to more products. What does concern me, is there are papers mentioning this process and ingredient dating back to 2002-2003 I think. If that's the case I wonder why none of the large companies have picked it up. I would think it would a great selling product for them.

I haven't looked at these papers so I'm not sure they are addressing the idea of such a use, or they address the actual finished products. I would really like to get Dr. Todorov's take on this.

[gaoli]

Hi Sheellah

Actually as you can see the Bioderma already has a high SPF (UVB protection). It's the low UVA protection (sometimes stated as PPD) which I find disappointing.

And Bioderma is a very major and serious sunscreen manufacturer. In fact it's one the few, alongside La Roche Posay who openly state their UVA protection/PPD on the products . It's down to recent FDA regulations, which have recently changed, that many european SS were not available previously in the US, which may be why you haven't heard of them.

I think the problem here is that they cannot seem to achieve a higher level of UVA protection than other fairly inert, non-penetrating, mineral screens, which also rarely get beyond a PPD of 8-10, so there's not really any advantage over those tried and tested products.

Considering Bioderma really sells itself on it's high UVA protection and its other products are along the lines of SPF30/UVA28 SPF50/UVA35 (exeptionally high!) - you would imagine if they could they would.

[sheellah]

Here's a listing of all the types of UV-Pearls they make. Some would have higher UVA protection. Do you know if the Bioderma one uses an organic or inorganic sunscreen?

emdchemicals.com/rona/1670.asp