Sunscreens block the induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase by ultraviolet-B radiation: a new way of evaluating sunscreen efficacy in vivo.

Two proprietary sunscreen preparations containing para-aminobenzoic acid and sulisobenzone, respectively, were tested for their ability to block the induction of ornithine decarboxylase by medium wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) in the epidermis of the hairless mouse. Both preparations were effective, the sunscreen treated animals requiring more radiation for ornithine decarboxylase induction. The UV dose-dependent gradients were reduced by a mean factor of 7.35 (sulisobenzone) and 15 (PABA). These figures correlate well with other in vivo sunscreen assays. This new method provides a simple and reproducible way of evaluating sunscreens in vivo.