What is "Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone" and what is its purpose?

Thanks to its triazine structure, rich in conjugated double bonds and electron-donating groups, diethylhexyl butamido triazone is capable of strongly absorbing UVB and UVA II radiations in the corneal layer, where it forms a homogeneous and invisible film. It works by trapping light energy in the form of photons, which it then transforms into thermal energy or emissions of lower energy waves, harmless to skin cells. This absorption-reemission mechanism helps to neutralize harmful radiations before they can damage DNA or generate free radicals in the skin. The rigid and minimally reactive structure of DBT also gives it high resistance to photolytic degradation.

Although Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone does not provide complete coverage of UVA I (340-400 nm), it can be combined with other photostable sun filters, such as DHHB (INCI: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate), which offers full UVA coverage. It's also worth noting that this UV filter has the added benefit of possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, its topical application in vitro during a study demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory effect on mouse ears by inhibiting edema formation by about 92%.

The safety of diethylhexyl butamido triazone has been evaluated through several regulatory studies, including by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The results indicate a very low skin absorption, less than 0.1% of the applied dose, when used in typical oil-in-water formulas, after 24 hours of exposure in vitro on human skin. Furthermore, no absorption was observed when the substance was applied in powder form.

Furthermore, in an oral toxicity study conducted on rats following the OECD guideline 401, no significant toxicity was observed at a limit dose of 2,000 mg/kg, suggesting an oral LD50 greater than this threshold. For your information, the LD50 is an indicator of a substance's toxicity and measures the concentration causing the death of 50% of a given animal population. The ECHA also conducted a reproductive and developmental toxicity study following the OECD guideline 421, which showed some effects in adult animals at the highest tested dose (1,000 mg/kg/day), but no impact on fertility or offspring.

Regarding the topical application of diethylhexyl butamido triazone, no significant skin irritation or eye toxicity has been reported following tests conducted according to OECD guidelines 404 and 405. Furthermore, this sunscreen did not cause any skin sensitization during the test conducted following OECD guideline 406, allowing it to be classified as non-sensitizing. Lastly, no mutagenic effects were found in the three mutagenicity tests conducted, further supporting its safety profile.

All currently available data supports a good tolerance profile for the sunscreen filter "Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone".

Environmental Concerns : Based on the currently available data, DBT is not toxic to aquatic species. However, its complete environmental profile is still under evaluation, particularly in terms of its potential persistence and bioaccumulation, essential parameters for determining the long-term impact of this sunscreen filter on aquatic environments.