[Allergy to sunscreens]

Abstract

Introduced in the 1930s, the sun filters (chemical screens) are very widely used as they are contained in photo-protective creams and in many other cosmetics. Allergy to sun filters seems to be rare in the general population (< 2%), but more frequent in populations which are suspected of photo-dermatosis (2 to 25%). It is composed of contact allergies, but also photo contact allergies in 45 to 85% of cases. Photo-biological exploration is comprised of application of photopatches and thus is necessary together with epidermotests. Crossed allergies, though rare, may be seen between filters, but also with substances that have a close chemical structure. Treatment such as prevention, if photo-protection is necessary, rest in discarding the causal filter and use of non-allergenic mineral screens.