Pajanan radiasi ultraviolet (UV) terhadap kulit menimbulkan banyak masalah, dua masalah penting yang utama, yaitu photoaging dan peningkatan risiko kanker kulit. Efek pajanan radiasi UV pada kulit yang tidak terlindungi dapat dibagi menjadi efek jangka pendek/akut dan efek jangka panjang/kronik
Fotoproteksi merupakan cara yang dilakukan sedemikian rupa untuk meminimalisasi kerusakan pada tubuh manusia saat terpajan radiasi UV. Efek merugikan radiasi UV terhadap manusia meningkatkan kebutuhan akan fotoproteksi. Terdapat berbagai bahan yang mempunyai sifat fotoproteksi antara lain fotoproteksi alami yang terdapat di atmosfer, lingkungan maupun di kulit; fotoproteksi fisik (pakaian, topi, kacamata, kaca, dan tabir surya); antioksidan (endogen dan eksogen); serta fotoproteksi lainnya (osmolit, dan enzim-enzim DNA repair). (MDVI 2011; 38/3:141 - 148)

Kata kunci: radiasi UV, fotoproteksi, tabir surya, antioksidan, enzim DNA repair

       Exposure of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the skin can cause many problems, the most important are photoaging and increased skin cancer risk. Effects of UV radiation to the unprotected skin are divided in to short time/acute effects and long time/chronic effects. Photoprotection is a group of mechanisms that has been developed to minimize the damage that the human body suffers when exposed to UV radiation. The deleritious effect of UV radiation on humans has increased the need for photoprotection. There are many agents with photoprotective properties, such as natural photoprotection at the atmosphere and environment and at the skin; physical photoprotection (clothes, hats, sunglasses, glass, and sunscreens); antioxidants (endogen and exogen); and other photoprotection (osmolit, and DNA repair enzymes). (MDVI 2011; 38/3:141 - 148)

Key words: UV radiation, photoprotection, sunscreen, antioxidant, DNA repair enzyme