TESTING shows poor-quality sunscreen products can contain no UV filters and offer no true UV protection.
Clinical Problem of Counterfeit Photoprotection
Substandard and counterfeit cosmetics are increasingly visible online and sunscreen products are now involved. This study evaluated a total of seven sunscreen creams purchased from online marketplaces. Investigators quantified SPF and FP-UVA indices using validated in vitro methodology then directly quantified filter concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Across all samples the creams showed absent sunscreen actives which means no meaningful UVB or UVA attenuation would be expected in routine real-life exposure. For clinicians this underscores that the clinical impact is not merely reduced photoprotection but a functional absence of protection.
Poor-Quality Sunscreen as a Cutaneous Risk Exposure
The presence of sunscreen branding does not equate to the presence of photoprotective ingredients and the study confirms that poor-quality sunscreen represents an exposure pathway rather than a mitigation pathway. Patient-level behaviours such as applying thicker layers or reapplying more often would not address the fundamental chemical absence of UV filter molecules. From a preventive dermatology perspective the risk here is acute sunburn and cumulative chronic UV insult. These data reinforce that healthcare professionals should remain vigilant when counselling patients who purchase low-cost sunscreens online.
Clinical Relevance for U.S. Practice
Although this analysis was performed on a small panel of products the finding is categorical. The absence of UV filters in these seven creams suggests that poor-quality sunscreen is an under-recognized preventable risk condition. This aligns with broader patient education principles on skin cancer prevention and UV safe-behaviors. Clinicians counselling patients on everyday sunscreen use can reinforce that the term sunscreen must imply a chemically validated UV filtering system and not merely a labelled cosmetic.
Reference: Couteau C et al. Study of poor-quality sunscreen products. Ann Pharm Fr. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharma.2025.11.001.
