SPF (Sun Protection Factor) helps measure how long you can stay in the sun with sunscreen before getting burned. SPF measures protection from sunburn caused primarily by UVB rays, but it does not adequately measure how well a sunscreen protects from UVA rays. UVA rays persist year-round and can lead to signs of premature skin aging, including fine lines, deep wrinkles and uneven skin tone. It is important to select a sunscreen that has broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection. However, in some sunscreens, UVA protection begins to break down the moment your skin is exposed to the sun.
Avobenzone is one of the best UVA blockers approved by the FDA, but it is highly unstable when exposed to sunlight. Neutrogena was the first in the US market to introduce sun protection in which Avobenzone was stabilized using Oxybenzone and DEHN, effectively providing better, longer protection from harmful UVA rays. This breakthrough technology was called Helioplex®.
With time, and as science has progressed, the Helioplex® name has come to encompass additional technologies and ingredients beyond DEHN while continuing to provide the same benefits of stabilized sun protection.
Today Helioplex® represents a breadth of stabilized sunscreen technologies that deliver superior protection from the sun. When you choose a sunblock with the name Helioplex®, you can be certain that you are using one that was specifically engineered to deliver superior UV protection that is broad spectrum and photostable.
