Sunscreen is one of our greatest forms of defence against the damaging effects of UV radiation, the development of skin cancer and the visible signs of aging. The following information provides you with advice and guidance to help you choose the right product for you and ensure your sunscreen provides and maintains the best level of protection for you and your family.
There are two main types of sunscreen – physical sunscreens (also known as mineral sunscreens) and chemical sunscreens (also known as organic sunscreens). Each type uses a different filtering mechanism to protect the skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation and each come with a list of pros and cons to consider. To choose the right product for your skin and your lifestyle, it’s important to understand what sets these two apart – let’s take a look.
PROTECTION AGAINST UVB: All sunscreens display a number that is followed or preceded by the letters SPF which stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection the product will provide against UVB radiation – the primary cause of sunburn.
SPF 30 is the minimum recommended level of protection against UVB. SPF 50 is recommended for individuals with fair skin that burns easily and for children and babies over 6 months.
PROTECTION AGAINST UVA: It’s important to ensure your sunscreen provides UVA protection. In the UK all products must display a UVA symbol on the packaging, which denotes a safe or legal minimum level of UVA protection. Some, but not all products are UVA star rated. For the best level of UVA protection, look for a product that displays a UVA star rating of 4 or 5.
Sunscreen can only be effective when it is applied correctly, in the right quantities and with correct frequency. A common mistake people make is not applying enough product and not reapplying it often enough.
A generous amount of sunscreen should be applied liberally and evenly to clean, dry skin. It’s also wise to double coat – think of it like painting a wall, you almost always need two coats to provide adequate and even coverage!
All sunscreens are active immediately, however, it is recommended that sunscreen is applied 20 minutes before heading outdoors. This will give the sunscreen layer time to fully form and be most effective
No matter what the label states, all sunscreens should be liberally reapplied at least every two hours – more often if sweating and towelling and always immediately after swimming.
Be warned that once a day application claims on products come with a list of caveats as such products can still be rubbed, sweated and worn off – so always reapply! Such claims are banned in Australia due to concerns they give people a false sense of security, but there’s no such restriction in the UK.
Sunscreen products can degrade over time and especially once a product is opened – reducing the products effectiveness, so it’s important to make sure your sunscreen is in date and still safe to use.
Sunscreen products typically expire three years after it is manufactured but expiration dates aren’t always displayed on the product packaging. A good tip is to write the date you purchased the product on the bottle and discard it after three years if unopened.
Once sunscreen is opened it will, over time, become less effective. It’s therefore important to look for the open jar symbol on the product packaging. The jar will contain a number (e.g.12M) – that’s the number of months you can safely use the sunscreen after opening, in this case 12 months. It’s worth writing the date you opened the product on the bottle as it’s not always easy to remember.
Sunscreen can expire way before its expiration date if it is not stored correctly! Sunscreen should always be stored in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. It may seem ironic, but the fact is that heat, sunlight and humidity can all effect the stability of sunscreen and reduce its effectiveness.
Exposing sunscreen to heat by leaving it in the car or in your beach bag for example, causes the product to break down and become less effective. Storing it in your bathroom is also a bad idea due to fluctuations in heat and humidity that can accelerate the breakdown. And if you thought you were safe storing it in the fridge, think again – extremely cold temperatures can be just as harmful.
The boom in cosmetic products using SPF claims as a unique selling point is hugely misleading and placing consumers at risk!
Common misconceptions surround application and the level of protection actually afforded by products making such claims. This is fuelled by lack of regulation, transparency and education – lulling consumers into a dangerous false sense of security.
Such products may form some protection against small amounts of incidental sun exposure, albeit for a short time – but consumers are highly unlikely to apply the amount of moisturiser or foundation for example, required for the product to provide the level of SPF protection it claims.
Unless the PRIMARY FUNCTION of the product is to protect the skin from UV, it simply cannot not be relied upon to provide adequate protection.
Whilst many associate sunscreen use with warmer weather to prevent sunburn UVA rays are present at pretty consistent levels every day of the year, making a strong case for all-year-round sun protection. Remember that temperature is not a gauge of how intense the UV radiation will be. Always check the UV index for the day and if it is going to be above 3 take precautions!
All UV radiation can lead to skin cancer but UVA rays are also responsible for skin aging and long-term damage. UVA can also penetrate cloud cover and glass, so even when it’s overcast, you’re sitting by a window or driving – your skin is still at risk.
Unprotected exposure to UVA builds up over time and due to its constant presence we are all naturally exposed to high levels during our lifetime.
Therefore, wearing sunscreen daily, even in the winter months will not only reduce the risk of sun damage and skin cancer, but also reduce the visible signs of aging – keeping you looking younger for longer!
