Sunscreen, think before you slip slap slop

Summer is for many of us the favoured season.

Long, lazy days in the garden or on the beach, but do you ever stop to think about what’s in your sunscreen?

Like cosmetics, they are subject to laws to ensure that they are safe to use.

However, does your sunscreen really do what it says on the bottle?

And what if any chemical nasties are lurking in your sun protectors?

An inconsistent market

The problem is that Global laws around sunscreen are not consistent, simply because regulations in International markets differ considerably.

Sunscreen listed as a drug

For instance, Canada and the USA categorise sunscreen as a licensed drug, imposing strict laws that make them safe for the consumer.

Sunscreen listed as a cosmetic

Whilst the EU, South Africa, and Southeast Asian countries, list the creams as cosmetics.

This is misleading to the public and could potentially put our health at risk.

Sunscreen recommendations

This controversy has led to the European Commission, implementing new recommendations.

Labels on Sunscreen must now indicate the level of UVA protection in a standard format, one that is clearly displayed on the label.

This wasn’t always the case, up until recently the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a product only referred to UVB rays, the radiation responsible for sunburn.

It did not include the very hazardous UVA rays, leading to skin cancer and premature ageing.

Conclusion

So it would help if you become your own label detective when making your purchase, to ensure it filters out all radiation.

Make sure the manufacturer’s ingredients offer FULL protection from UVB and UVA radiation.

In saying that, don’t just rely on sunscreen, to offer you complete protection from the sun’s deadly rays; to date, none of the claims of complete protection from those who produce sunscreen has ever been linked to any scientific evidence.

Yes, that’s right! No research has ever been successfully carried; out that proves sunscreen actually prevents skin cancer, melanoma.

To address this important issue further, we have put together an article on facts about sun-damaged skin, which demonstrates the importance of protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, today and always.