Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481984›Full record

ArticlePhotochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology2025

Uncovering the efficacy of a natural homemade sunscreen in protection from ultraviolet radiation.

Furkan Akif Ince, Julianne Clare Nayar, Alicia Lauren Wong, James Andrew McClelland, Andrew J A Holland, Harvey Stern, Myriam Abboud, Rebecca Sara Mason, Katie Marie Dixon

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Furkan Akif InceSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medical Foundation Building K25, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Julianne Clare NayarSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medical Foundation Building K25, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Alicia Lauren WongSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medical Foundation Building K25, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
James Andrew McClellandSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medical Foundation Building K25, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Andrew J A HollandDouglas Cohen Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, The Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Harvey SternDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Strathfield Private Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia.
Myriam AbboudDepartment of Health, Zayed University, P.O. Box 144534, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Rebecca Sara MasonSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Katie Marie DixonSchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Medical Foundation Building K25, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. katie.dixon@sydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3516-3083

Funding

Zayed University R21055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In Australia, skin cancer has the highest incidence of all cancer types, where Therapeutic Goods Association-approved, broad-spectrum sunscreens are recommended to prevent skin carcinogenesis. Commercial sunscreen ingredients, however, have been associated with negative impacts on human health, animal health and the environment. Together, the perceived harmful effects of commercial sunscreens have driven a trend towards home formulation of natural sunscreens, recipes for which are widely available online. Scientific evidence to support the efficacy of natural sunscreens, however, is lacking. We tested the efficacy of a natural homemade sunscreen (NHSS) published online by a wellness blogger with the aim to determine its photoprotective properties, beyond its ability to protect against erythema, compared to a commercially available SPF50 + sunscreen. The NHSS contained almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, red raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil and zinc oxide. Skin explants were treated with either a commercial SPF50 + sunscreen, NHSS or base lotion prior to ultraviolet irradiation. Skin explants were assessed using immunohistochemistry for the levels of UVR-induced DNA damage in the form of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, as well as for sunburn cells and epidermal thickness. We demonstrate herein that NHSSs can reduce UVR-induced DNA damage and epidermal thickness, but do not effectively protect against the generation of sunburn cells. In comparison, SPF50 + sunscreen provided effective protection against all investigated parameters. These factors, however, are markers of short-term UVR-induced damage and there is as yet no evidence for NHSSs in prevention of skin carcinogenesis. Therefore, we recommend the continued use of TGA-approved commercial sunscreens for sun protection. Further studies are required to test water resistance, variation in homemade formulation, shelf life, and protection against skin carcinogenesis in a chronic UVR model.

Indexed as

Sunscreening AgentsUltraviolet RaysAnimalsDNA DamageHumansPlant OilsSkinSkin NeoplasmsPlant OilsSunscreening AgentsNatural sunscreensSkin cancerSunscreensUV-induced DNA damage

Identifiers

PMID40481984

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.