UV filters are substances that are mainly intended to protect the skin from certain ultraviolet rays by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering them. They are also used in small concentrations to protect the product itself from ultraviolet radiation. European Union legislation allows the use of 28 UV filters, four of which are also allowed in nano size. Research on UV filters reports their percutaneous absorption and thus potential systemic exposure, raising questions about their safety. Therefore, we have reviewed the literature on the safety of UV filters, with a focus on percutaneous absorption. The PubMed database was used for the literature search. We concluded that certain UV filters can be absorbed through the skin, which depends on the formulation of the product, the UV filter concentration used, the surface area and the frequency of application. UV filters are metabolised and eliminated from the body in different ways. Percutaneous absorption of UV filters has been demonstrated, but this does not answer the question of safety. Quite a few studies also report on the metabolism of filters, but few report on the toxicity of the filter or its metabolites following the absorption through the skin.
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