Organic Chemistry

Avobenzone is a sunscreen agent that protects against the full spectrum of UV light. Of all sunscreen agents, avobenzone has one of the largest absorbance spectrums, absorbing light between 320 – 400 nm (peak absorption ~ 360 nm). Exposure to UV rays is a leading cause of skin cancer, and so use of an effective sunscreen, like avobenzone or avobenzone in combination with other agents, helps to lower risk of developing skin cancer. Avobenzone is specifically the most effective sunscreen agent against UVA rays. Avobenzone is susceptible to photodegredation, and therefore it is important that avobenzone be combined with photostabilizers in the final sunscreen product. It’s been considered a relatively safe chemical, but recent research suggests otherwise. Avobenzone degrades in the sun, resulting in the release of free radicals that may actually increase the risk for cancer.

Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, also referred to as Bemotrizinol, or BTZ for short, is an oil-soluble organic compound that is included in sunscreen to take in ultraviolet rays. BTZ is a wide-area (broadband) ultraviolet absorb ber. It can soak up UVB and even UVA, and it has 2 absorption optimals, located at wavelengths of 310 as well as 340nm respectively. Its photostability is exceptionally high. Even if 50MEDs (minimum sun direct exposure dose) of ultraviolet light is used, 98.4% of the amount can still be avoided being disintegrated. Combining with various other sunscreens such as avobenzone can likewise inhibit their photodecomposition reaction.