Black Tea Gel May Provide UV Protection

ISTANBUL, Turkey—Topical application of black tea extract holds promise as a potential sunscreen, protecting and repairing the skin from UV radiation. Researchers conducted an in vitro study using aqueous and alcoholic extracts to test UV absorption. Both extracts showed UV absorption; however, the aqueous extract showed a stronger absorptivity per weight compared to the alcoholic extract, according to the study published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2007; 29(6): 437-442).

The black tea aqueous extract, formulated as a gel with carbomer resin, peaked between 250 and 300 nm. In an in vivo study, the gel was applied to six subjects to evaluate the protection potential against UV radiation (200 to 400 nm). Based on erythema evaluation, skin reddening appeared after 4 hours and reached a peak at 24 hours on the control site. There was no skin reddening where the black tea gel had been applied. The researchers concluded that black tea gel offered skin protection from a range of 200 to 400 nm UV radiation.