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Iron Oxides
Iron Oxides · CI 77491 · CI 77492 · CI 77499 · Iron Oxides (CI 77491) · Iron Oxides (CI 77492) · Iron Oxides (CI 77499)SPF filter
The pigments that tint sunscreen. Dermatologists advise a tinted sunscreen for melasma, because visible light can darken it.
What it does
They’re the pigments in tinted sunscreens. Visible light can worsen melasma, especially in darker skin, and the American Academy of Dermatology advises a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide and SPF 30 or higher for it. In one trial, a tinted sunscreen helped 4% hydroquinone work better than an untinted one.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a colorant (adds color).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
The evidence, graded
expert consensusMelasma is linked to sun (UV and visible light), hormones such as pregnancy and the pill, thyroid disease, some medicines and family history. Visible light can darken it, especially in darker skin. The AAD advises a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that is tinted with iron oxide, every day. In one trial, a tinted sunscreen helped 4% hydroquinone work better than an untinted one.Sarkar 2014 · Indian Dermatology Online Journal ↗ Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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