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Pioneering Doctor Provides the Best UVA/UVB Protection Available

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CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- LUCA(TM) Sunscreen, a revolutionary new sun protection product to hit store shelves around the country, gives consumers more detailed information about the level of protection it provides against sun damage than any other sunscreen in the United States.

LUCA(TM) is truly a trend-setting product in both in its level of UVA protection and by introducing the UVA rating system "critical wavelength" to consumers. "It would be difficult to overstate the need or importance of providing consumers with a UVA rating system," says Dr. Karl Gruber, co-founder of LUCA(TM) Sunscreen, who as a practicing surgical pathologist sees the daily effects of solar aging, including cancer, DNA damage, wrinkles, sun spots, and the loss of collagen caused by deeper penetrating, longer wavelength UVA rays. "We are glad to see that the Food and Drug Administration is proposing a four-star UVA rating system."

The FDA's goal is to give consumers more detailed information about the level of protection a sunscreen provides against damaging UVA rays. However, the proposed four-star rating system will not be implemented until 2009, at the earliest.

Luckily for consumers who don't want to wait, LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is already providing the maximum level of protection against UVA rays and is making that information available in the form of a critical wavelength value printed on the bottle. Critical wavelength is an internationally recognized rating system for UVA protection, which must be measured in a laboratory. LUCA(TM) Sunscreen was founded to introduce to the market the best UVA protection available and verify that coverage with a critical wavelength value determined by laboratory testing. LUCA(TM) Sunscreen's critical wavelength of 383nm is higher than any other product available in the U.S., proving that it provides protection across the entire UVA spectrum. LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is currently the best protection against solar aging. Dr. Gruber is pleased that the FDA will require other sunscreen manufacturers to follow LUCA's lead and offer consumers better sun protection.

In the United States since 1978, over-the-counter sunscreen protection has been rated solely by SPF (Sun Protection Factor) values, which only provides information on a product's level of protection from the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that causes sunburn. The rating (SPF15, SPF30, etc.) indicates how much longer a person can be in the sun before burning than when not wearing sunscreen. But SPF does not reflect on coverage from the sun's more deeply penetrating UVA rays, known to cause cancer and premature aging, including wrinkles and age spots.

On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration proposed sweeping new rules for sunscreens that would give consumers more detailed information about the level of protection provided against UVA rays. It would require manufacturers to conduct specific laboratory and human tests to assess UVA protection, and each product would be labeled with one to four stars, indicating low to high protection. Based on LUCA's current level of protection, it would receive four stars.

"I applaud the FDA for introducing its 2007 Proposed Sunscreen Rule," said Dr. Gruber, who developed LUCA(TM) Sunscreen with his own young family in mind. "Most people don't understand the complexities of sun protection and are confused by competing assertions from manufacturers -- whether it's higher SPF levels, broad-spectrum protection, all-day protection, or other marketing claims. The FDA is telling consumers, 'what you don't know could hurt you'."

The American Academy of Dermatologists suggests that using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks exposure to UVA and UVB rays can help to prevent skin cancer, which is currently the most prevalent of all types of cancers. More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year alone, and more than 80 percent of these new cases could be prevented by protection from the sun's rays.(1)

"In my practice, I have seen an increase in skin cancers and they are occurring in younger and younger patients," said Dr. Gruber. "That's why we focused our attention on UVA protection and decided to introduce the critical wavelength value to the U.S. market."

Featuring breakthrough Polycrylene(R) technology, LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is the most advanced broad-spectrum protection on the U.S. market and is better at blocking UVA radiation than other sunscreens sold in the U.S., effectively shielding the skin for up to six hours from the ultraviolet radiation that is linked to premature aging, skin cancer and melanoma.

LUCA Sunscreen is designed as a daily wear moisturizer for adults and children and features a stabilized avobenzone formulation, which was uniquely created for LUCA as a light, cosmetically elegant alternative to zinc or titanium dioxide. It is water resistant, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and specially formulated for children and adults with sensitive skin.

LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is available in SPF 15 and SPF 30, both with a 383nm critical wavelength. The MSRP is $30.00 for 3.5 ounces.

ABOUT CRITICAL WAVELENGTH

Critical wavelength (CW) is the most effective way to rate UVA protection. Solar radiation travels in waves. The wavelength corresponds to the solar energy of the wave. Solar radiation of 290nm to 400nm (the UVB-UVA range) is reproduced in a laboratory device designed to measure the amount of radiation absorbed by a sunscreen. Starting at the beginning of the UVB range (290nm), progressively higher wavelengths of light are aimed at the sunscreen. The point at which the sunscreen lets 10% of the radiation through is defined as the critical wavelength. The higher the number, the better. A sunscreen with a critical wavelength over 370nm is considered by the FDA to provided excellent UVA protection. LUCA, with a critical wavelength of 383nm, provides the best UVA protection available.

ABOUT LUCA SUNSCREEN

Created by noted pathologist Karl Gruber, M.D., LUCA(TM) Sunscreen provides children and adults with the most advanced broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays available in the United States. Using breakthrough Polycrylene(R) technology, LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is better at blocking UVA radiation than other sunscreens sold in the U.S. and it is the first sunscreen introduced in America to back up its UVA protection claims with its critical wavelength measurement printed on the bottle. LUCA(TM) Sunscreen is water resistant, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and is designed for use as a daily moisturizer. The product is available in SPF 15 and SPF 30, both with a 383nm critical wavelength, providing for the highest UVA protection. The MSRP is $30.00 for 3.5 ounces. For more information, please visit http://www.lucasunscreen.com/.