• Sunscreens can be prescribed for skin protection against ultraviolet radiation and/or visible light in people with cutaneous photosensitivity.
  • This includes people with photodermatoses, genetic disorders involving cutaneous photosensitivity (including xeroderma pigmentosum and the porphyrias), and people with increased risk of adverse effects from ultraviolet radiation exposure due to chronic disease (such as haematological malignancies), medical therapies and/or procedures. Please see the table below for more detail of approved indications.
  • Sunscreens prescriptions are possible through the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) approved indications.
  • Prescriptions should include the name of the sunscreen and can include the phrase “(ACBS)” to make this indication clear to dispensers, pharmacists and GPs.
  • Currently, the sunscreen products with ACBS approval are Anthelios® Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+, Uvistat® Lipscreen SPF 50, Uvistat® Suncream SPF 30, and Uvistat® Suncream SPF 50.

Further information can also be found on the British Photodermatology Group Position statement on Photoprotection on this website, and at https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/sunscreen/

Table 1. Conditions eligible for sunscreen prescription

GeneticPhotodermatosesPhotoaggravated disordersOther
Xeroderma Pigmentosum and other DNA repair disordersPolymorphic Light Eruption including Juvenile Spring EruptionPhotoaggravated eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus, rosaceaDrug photosensitivity  
Cutaneous Porphyrias including Gunther’s DiseaseSolar UrticariaPhotosensitive dermatoses – unclassifiedImmunosuppressed patients including transplant patients
Oculocutaneous albinism  Chronic Actinic DermatitisDarier’s DiseasePhotosensitivity post radiotherapy
 Actinic PrurigoChronic or Recurrent Herpes LabialisPseudoporphyria  
 Hydroa VacciniformeLupus erythematosus, DermatomyositisVitiligo  
 Actinic FolliculitisCutaneous lymphoma