Lack of Significant Dermal Penetration of Titanium Dioxide from Sunscreen Formulations Containing Nano- and Submicron-Size TiO2 Particles

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is included in some sunscreen formulations to physically block ultraviolet radiation. A dermal penetration study was conducted in minipigs with three TiO2 particles (uncoated submicron sized, uncoated nano-sized, and dimethicone/methicone copolymer-coated nanosized) applied 5% by weight in a sunscreen. These and control formulations were topically applied to minipigs at 2 mg cream/cm(2) skin (4 applications/day, 5 days/week, 4 weeks). Skin (multiple sites), lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and kidneys were removed, and the TiO2 content was determined (as titanium) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Titanium levels in lymph nodes and liver from treated animals were not increased over the values in control animals. The epidermis from minipigs treated with sunscreens containing TiO2 showed elevated titanium. Increased titanium was detected in abdominal and neck dermis of minipigs treated with uncoated and coated nanoscale TiO2. Using electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray analysis, all three types of TiO2 particles were found in the stratum corneum and upper follicular lumens in all treated skin samples (more particles visible with coated nanoscale TiO2). Isolated titanium particles were also present at various locations in the dermis of animals treated with all three types of TiO2-containing sunscreens; however, there was no pattern of distribution or pathology suggesting the particles could be the result of contamination. At most, the few isolated particles represent a tiny fraction of the total amount of applied TiO2. These findings indicate that there is no significant penetration of TiO2 nanoparticles through the intact normal epidermis.