Barrier Reef Corals Help Contribute to Sunscreen

A recent study explores the creation of the world's first UVA/UVB sunscreen by the skincare company Larissa Bright Australia, which harnesses the natural sun protection from the corals of the Great Barrier Reef.

The study shows that the process helps to generate sunscreen via protective barriers that have been developed by the reef over millions of years and helped those survive the harsh sun.

The study notes the following, via a press release: "The new UV filters are resistant to both UVA and UVB rays and are clear and colourless which means they can be used in any cream emulsion.

"CSIRO scientists have spent the last two years adapting the coral's sunscreen code so that it can be safely used as an ingredient in human sunscreen. The coral's sunscreen was improved to create a suite of 48 new sunscreen filters.

"The research builds on work by scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) who were the first to discover the natural sun screening ability of coral on the Great Barrier Reef."

Background information from the study notes that results of 20 years research showed that shallow-water corals can protect themselves from UV light before approaching CSIRO.

"We wanted to find a way to convert this natural method of coping with exposure to the intensive UV rays from Queensland's sunshine, into a safe and effective sunscreen for human use," Larissa Bright, Company Director of Larissa Bright Australia said, via the release. "We feel these filters will set a new standard in broad spectrum sunscreen. They mimic the natural sunscreen coral has developed and used over millions of years."

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More information regarding the findings can be found via CSIRO Australia.