Safety and efficacy of a broad-spectrum sunscreen in patients with discoid or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

An eight-week, open-label study was conducted to test the efficacy, safety, and cosmetic acceptability of a broad-spectrum sunscreen in patients with discoid lupus erythematosus or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The sunscreen combined the ultraviolet A absorber avobenzone (Parsol 1789, Givaudan Corp) and the ultraviolet B absorber padimate O and had a sun protection factor greater than fifteen. The overall clinical disease severity decreased from 2.7 (four point scale) at baseline to 1.7 after eight weeks (p = 0.005). Cutaneous signs and symptoms, including hyperpigmentation, papules, scaling, and erythema, were significantly less severe at the end of the study. The level of protection provided by the sunscreen was good to excellent in 54 percent of patients, and was judged to be superior or far superior to previously used sun protection factor-fifteen sunscreens in 77 percent of patients. Most patients found the sunscreen highly acceptable with respect to its cosmetic properties.