Australia

2/11/03

 

Dear Khun Shanya Jarturuntanont, (IPSA brand manager)

 

My name is ********and I am the one who is responsible for IPSA sunscreen review.  Before you read, let me assure you that I have no relation to any cosmetic company and have no intention to condemn any brand.  In fact, I am a big fan of Shiseido espcially Ultra light sunblock spf30.  I praise that product very highly in every website. Now I will tell you why I am concern about IPSA sunscreen.

 

Last year I have receive a bad news from my parents that my mom is having melanoma cancer.  Though it has been removed, this incident made me aware of skin cancer more than ever.  I am a person of olive skin, throughout my life, I have been told that sunscreen is for “white” people. We don’t need sunscreen because our skin can tolerate the sunlight. (now I know it is wrong)

 

From that point onward, I devote myself to study everything about sunscreen.  To my surprise, there is so little that we can do to protect ourselves from the danger of UVA. Little by little I piece together a  review on several sunscreen products, my sole purpose is to provide people with information about safe sunscreen and how to select sunscreen that give them coverage for both UVB and UVA (I and II).  All I want to do is preventing people from getting skin cancer later on in their lives. 

 

I’ve read your respond yesterday and decide to write to you in person. I quote,

To most people, this section would ease their mind but not to me.  I haven’t been convinced yet.  Please let reassure you again that I want people to have “safe” product that will protect them from skin cancer and have no intention tarnish any brand.  Now please let me explain why I haven’t convinced about your protective ingredient just yet.

 

The follows are the ingredients used in IPSA spf 43 pa+++:

 

Active ingredients:

Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate 7.5%

Titanium Dioxide 0.79%,

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane* 0.1%

 

Other ingredients:

Thyme Ext. 0.05%

Tocopheryl Acetate 0.02%

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate 0.02%

Sophora Japonica Root Ext. 0.003%

 

*requires octocrylene or methylbenzylidene camphor as stabilizer

 

According to my study this is my review on each ingredient:

Active ingredients:

Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate 7.5% yield protective range from 290-320 nm (or UVB protection) and can be added upto 7.5%

 

Titanium Dioxide 0.79% normally TiO2 yield protective range from 290-700 nm (where microfine titanium dioxide become less effective and yield protective upto 370 nm max.) I give you the benefit of a doube and assume that IPSA use TiO2 in their original form.

However, The recommend amount of Titanium Dioxide from USFDA is 2 to 25 % of product. (IPSA has 0.79%)

 

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 0.1% or Avobenzone or Parsol 1789 yield protective range from 320-400 nm However “concerns have been raised regarding its photostability and its potential to degrade other sunscreen ingredients in products in which it is used.” (Levy, S.B 2002) Without the presence of octocrylene or methylbenzylidene, Avobenzone will degrade in sunlight.  Recently one study in shows that with the presence of “treated titanium dioxide”, Avobenzone “can” become stable.  The recommend percentage is 2-3% for this ingredient to be effective.

 

Other ingredients:

Thyme Ext. 0.05% Derived from the thyme plant. It can have potent antioxidant properties (Source: Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, March 2002, pages 1845–1851). Its fragrant component can also cause skin irritation” (Begoun, 2001)

This ingredient can also be use as preservative.

 

Tocopheryl Acetate 0.02% Vitamin E (antioxidant)

 

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate 0.02% or licorice extract or ชะเอมเทศ  It is a moisturizing Licorice Extract that eases the discomfort of inflammation and helps balance dehydrated skin with moisture

 

           Sophora Japonica Root Ext. 0.003% เป็นสาร Anti-microbial และ Anti-               

inflammation 

 

 

Unless you have more information, I cannot change my review.  I am ready to write a letter of appology on pantip.com if my review is wrong.  And I will change the review on my website.  Again, this is not a quest to tarnish Shiseido or IPSA reputation. It is merely a search for good and safe sunscreen.  This is all I want to do.  If someone that you love is having skin cancer, you would know how I feel.

 

So please let me know, if you have more information to add.

 

Sincerely,

*********

(tel*********)