Feature - Sunscreen Safety

Most of us know that it's a good idea to put on some sunscreen before exposing ourselves to the sun but how much do we actually know about the effectiveness of the product we're using? Are we inadvertently putting our health at risk because of ambiguous labelling?

The European Commission (EC) has recently issued a Recommendation to the sunscreen industry which aims to make the labelling on sunscreen products easier to understand and the level of protection provided clearer.

The improved labelling will start to become visible in the shops this Summer but will not be implemented across the board until Summer 2008. This is because many manufacturers had already printed their labels for this Summer in advance of the Recommendation.

One of the problems identified by the EC was in relation to the 2 different types of hazardous UV radiation given off by the sun; UVB radiation which is the cause of sunburn and UVA radiation which causes premature skin ageing, interferes with the human immune system and is a major contributor to the risk of skin cancer. The standardised Sun Protection Factor (SPF) currently used on sunscreen labelling only indicates the level of protection against UVB radiation. Sunscreen products with only UVB protection may provide a false sense of safety because they let hazardous UVA radiation reach the skin. The level of UVA protection (if provided) has, in the past, been indicated in many different ways, examples of which include 'with UVA filters', 'SPF 30, UVA of 30A' and '100% anti UVA/UVB/IR'. This can be very confusing for consumers as there is no consistency and therefore no way of accurately comparing the level of UVA protection in one product with that in another and also no way of easily knowing exactly how much protection is provided.

As part of its Recommendation the EC has proposed the introduction of a standardised logo for UVA protection to be used alongside the SPF currently used. By purchasing sunscreen that displays the logo consumers will know for sure that the product contains a quantified minimum UVA protection (it is suggested that the UVA protection factor should be at least 1/3 that of the SPF) which is based on a standard testing method.


Consumers should also be aware that if the SPF is over 50 it ceases to become any more effective. If the product is applied correctly (about 6 full teaspoons for the average adult body, frequently reapplied and in particular, after swimming) an SPF of 15-20 should suffice for normal skin.


The Recommendation has also called for the industry to stop using terms such as "sun block" and "total protection" on their labelling because sunscreen products cannot deliver total protection from UV radiation and such claims are misleading and totally false.


Until the new labelling regime is fully implemented next Summer consumers should be mindful of the information set out above and be aware that not all sunscreens are the same.






It is also advisable to wear sunglasses during the Summer months in order to protect the eyes from sun damage. However, as with sunscreens, not all sunglasses offer the same level of protection. When purchasing new sunglasses consumers are advised to select a pair that complies with the British Standard BS 1836:2005, this guarantees that a basic level of protection is provided.

Consumers should also be aware of the various Filter Categories:

Filter Category	% of light able to pass through the lens	Description
0	80-100	Used mainly for fashion and do not significantly reduce the glare from bright sunlight
1	43-80	As above
2	18-43	Suitable for sunny weather and driving
3	8-18	Suitable for bright sunlight, driving and general purpose wear
4	3-8	Suitable for very bright conditions and should not be worn whilst driving or operating machinery

Date of release: 10 August 2007

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