Ultraviolet radiation protection evaluator

A method for evaluating the level of protection against ultraviolet damage of a sunscreen preparation for skin by comparing optical properties of skin with and without said sunscreen applied thereto, comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying light to unprotected skin from a source and receiving returned light from said skin using a light detector;
• (b) transmitting said returned light from said light detector to a spectral analyzer,
• (c) treating the skin by applying sunscreen to the skin;
• (d) applying light from said source to said skin treated with said sunscreen applied thereon and receiving returned light from the skin with said sunscreen applied thereon using said light detector;
• (e) transmitting said light returned in response to said application of light to said treated skin from said detector to a spectral analyzer for determining an amount of light filtered by said skin having the sunscreen thereon in comparison to an amount of light filtered by skin not having said sunscreen;
• and
• (f) transmitting the results from said spectral analysis to a computer for determining a level of protection given by said sunscreen.

A method of evaluating the skin protection characteristic of a sunscreen comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying and detecting light having a wavelength against which protection is desired to the skin of a subject in a particular area of the skin;
• (b) applying the sunscreen to be tested to said particular area;
• (c) repeating the application and detection of light having said wavelength to said particular area with sunscreen applied to it;
• and
• (d) comparing the detected amount of light returned by the skin before and after application of said sunscreen and determining the extent to which said light of said wavelength has been absorbed to create a measurement of said skin protection characteristics.