Modern sun-protection products reduce the risk for
erythema and DNA damage, but even those products with a very high sun protection factor (SPF) and full-spectrum UVB and UVA protection may not prevent UV radiation (UVR)-induced
immunomodulation. Formulating
sunscreens with a high SPF, as well as a high immune protection factor, is necessary for preventing
skin cancer and maintaining effective immune responses to
infectious disease after sun exposure. Supplementing current sun-protection products with immunoprotective compounds may help fill the gap between
erythema protection and immunoprotection. Animal and now human studies have shown that a class of agents known as oligosaccharins--complex
carbohydrates found in plants--protect the cutaneous immune system from UVB-induced and UVA-induced
immunomodulation. This immunoprotective effect occurs independently from
erythema and DNA damage protection, and these agents, particularly tamarind
xyloglucan, may become important adjunctive ingredients to
sunscreens.