High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of citropten and bergapten in suction blister fluid after solar product application in humans.

Citropten (5,7-dimethoxycoumarin) and bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) are present in bergamot oil which is used as a tanning cosmetic product. The aim of this study was to quantify, using high-performance liquid chromatography, the amount of citropten and bergapten in the skin after suntan products application (an emulsion and an oil formulation). A suction blister technique performed of the anterior aspect of the forearm permitted the collection of these two accumulated molecules. Fluorometric and ultraviolet detections were used for citropten and bergapten determinations, respectively.