Skip to main content
. 2019 May 6;321(21):2082–2091. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.5586

Table 2. Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Sunscreen Active Ingredients (All Data).

Geometric Mean (Coefficient of Variation %) [Range]
Spray 1 Spray 2 Lotion Cream
Avobenzone
Overall
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa 4.0 (60.9) [1.6-8.3] 3.4 (77.3) [1.0-7.3] 4.3 (46.1) [2.8-9.3] 1.8 (32.1) [1.1-2.7]
Time to maximum concentration, hb 77.0 [57.0-82.0] 67.5 [14.0-86.0] 67.5 [33.0-95.0] 69.0 [33.0-86.0]
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa
Day 1 1.6 (43) [1.0-3.0] 1.5 (92.9) [0.4-4.4] 2.4 (69.4) [1.0-5.2] 1.0 (43.8) [0.5-1.6]
Day 4 3.8 (68.9) [1.4-8.3] 3.1 (70.2) [1.0-6.4] 3.5 (58.6) [2.0-9.3] 1.7 (40.4) [1.0-2.7]
Residual concentration at day 7, ng/mL 0.9 (62.4) [0.4-1.8] 0.7 (70) [0.3-1.6] 1.2 (69.5) [0.6-3.4] 0.3 (73.2) [0.2-0.7]
Terminal half-life, hc 54.6 (57.0) [29.8-114.0] 45.2 (68.0) [27.6-128.1] 35.4 (13.4) [31.3-40.8] 33.0 (48.0) [22.4-68.4]
Oxybenzone
Overall
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa 209.6 (66.8) [83.3-532.0] 194.9 (52.4) [89.3-350.1] 169.3 (44.5) [103.3-274.6] NA
Time to maximum concentration, hb 57.0 [8.0-78.0] 32.5 [6.0-82.0] 21.5 [8.0-57.0] NA
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa
Day 1 155.4 (56.4) [70.9-271.1] 162.2 (81.8) [46.1-350.1] 149.5 (38.4) [97-270.2] NA
Day 4 177.6 (70.6) [75.2-532.0] 163.0 (46.3) [89.3-299.2] 118.1 (40.6) [69.8-186.4] NA
Residual concentration at day 7, ng/mL 34.4 (51.4) [15.6-56.1] 20.9 (52.0) [9.8-42.4] 24.5 (78.0) [14.0-86.8]
Terminal half-life, hd 30.6 (19.1) [25.4-43.5] 23.5 (13.0) [20.9-28.9] 27.1 (33.8) [20.9-48.1] NA
Octocrylene
Overall
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa 2.9 (102.0) [1.0-9.8] 7.8 (113.3) [2.5-20.4] 5.7 (66.3) [2.8-13.4] 5.7 (47.1) [2.9-10.3]
Time to maximum concentration, hb 74.5 [8.0-82.0] 65.0 [14.0-84.0] 54.5 [33.0-78.0] 72.0 [33.0-81.0]
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa
Day 1 0.8 (53.0) [0.5-1.7] 3.7 (125.7) [1.1-18.5] 2.6 (65.6) [1.2-6.3] 2.9 (39.9) [1.6-4.2]
Day 4 2.6 (108.5) [1.0-9.8] 6.2 (83.1) [2.5-17.6] 3.9 (65.8) [1.7-9.2] 4.9 (48.7) [2.4-8.5]
Residual concentration at day 7, ng/mL 0.6 (28.4) [0.4-0.9] 1.2 (66) [0.6-2.6] 1.7 (87.3) [0.5-4.4] 1.3 (50.9) [0.8-2.6]
Terminal half-life, he 84.4 (53.3) [59.3-120.2] 43.3 (50.7) [26.9-75.2] 45.2 (20.7) [36.9-55.6] 45.9 (27.9) [33.9-62.8]
Ecamsule
Overall
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa NA NA NA 1.5 (166.1) [0.5-12.1]
Time to maximum concentration, hb NA NA NA 28.0 [8.0-86.0]
Maximum plasma concentration, ng/mLa
Day 1 NA NA NA 1.2 (177.3) [0.4-12.1]
Day 4 NA NA NA 0.7 (33.2) [0.5-1.1]
Residual concentration at day 7, ng/mL NA NA NA NA
Terminal half-life, h NA NA NA NA

Abbreviation: NA, not applicable.

a

Maximum active ingredient concentration observed over the study duration. Day 1 values are the maximum concentration over the interval of 0 to 23 hours. Day 4 values are the maximum concentration over the interval of 71 to 95 hours.

b

Reported as median (range); denotes the time of maximum active ingredient concentration observed over the study duration.

c

Reported for only a subset of participants: spray 1 (n = 5), spray 2 (n = 5), lotion (n = 3), and cream (n = 5).

d

Reported for only a subset of participants: spray 1 (n = 6), spray 2 (n = 5), and lotion (n = 5).

e

Reported for only a subset of participants: spray 1 (n = 2), spray 2 (n = 4), lotion (n = 3), and cream (n = 4).