The Society for Dermopharmacy draws attention to this set of problems in a scientific statement introduced at a press conference in Hamburg on 26 January 2006. "It is considered to be verified at the present time that besides the UVB also the UVA radiation is involved in the generation of skin tumours", dermatologist professor Dr. Jean Krutman, director of the Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung (Institute of Environmental Medicine Research) at Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf emphasized. "Moreover, UVA radiation boosts the development of various other light-conditioned dermatoses and accelerates skin-ageing", professor Dr. Hans-Christian Korting of the Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie (Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology) of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, added.

16 journalists represented a distinguished panel composed of experts and public media to participate in the press conference organized by the GD in Hamburg on 26 February 2006. Further 58 editorial offices filed a request for the press handouts.

Beyond this limit a further differentiation is not envisaged. The UVA protection therefore remains independent from the level of the UVB protection always at the same level. "When using a sunscreen with high light protection factor towards UVB, a relatively high UVA dose without infringing the standard may thus affect the skin without the user's noticing", Kresken explained.

Therefore in the opinion of the Gesellschaft für Dermopharmazie besides the Australian Standard also additional methods for the characterization of the UVA-protection are recommended supplying more precise information allowing thus a differentiation between different products. As the society states this wish cannot yet be fulfilled at present. In fact, in the last years several new methods for the determination of the UVA-protection have been developed, however they are either too elaborate or not yet sufficiently backed up in their significance.

The latter for example also applies to the method valid since February 2005 in Germany according to DIN 67502. This method determines the so-called UVA-balance, i. e. the relation between UVB and UVA protection of a product. The procedure is subject to criticism owing to the fact that the duration of the protection effect is not considered and no biological endpoint employed relevant for long-term skin damage caused by UVA-radiation. Also there is no recommendation to date on the minimum level of the UVA balance value of a sunscreen in order to attribute a sufficient UVA protection to it.

Professor Dr. Jean Krutmann (right) informed at the press conference about new findings relating to photo-biological mechanisms of skin damage by UV-radiation. The acting GD-president Prof. Dr. Hans Christian Korting (left) explained the necessity of a consistent light protection by means of the clinic of UV-related skin damage. Following GD-president (mid) presented the GD position on test and declaration of UVA-protection by sunscreens.

Owing to the - so far - still unsolved questions, the society recommends not to use the procedure for standard testing purposes at the time being. Incidentally, it is to be considered that the consumer may possibly be unable to cope if in future besides the light protection factor towards UVB in addition a UVA protection value established by which method ever would be declared. This is why on medium-term a practice-oriented procedure should be searched for providing the declaration of a protection factor and summarizes the protection performance towards UVA and UVB radiation in one value.