SPF must be applied correctly in order to work
Many of us will be slapping on sunscreen this month before heading out to beaches and barbecues to soak up the sun. However, one medical expert warns that you may not actually know how to apply SPF correctly.
Niamh McMillan, Superdrug Pharmacy Superintendent, previously advised that the timing of sun protection application is crucial, as applying it too early or too late can increase the risk of skin damage, ageing and burns. She said: “It’s best to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. It should then be reapplied to exposed areas, 15 to 30 minutes after sun exposure.”
She added that sunscreen should be reapplied after vigorous activities like swimming or excessive sweating. SPF measures a cream’s protection against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, commonly associated with skin burns, and bottles typically rank protection on a scale from two to 50+.
The star rating on bottles indicates protection from ultraviolet A radiation (UVA), which is linked to skin ageing, enlarged pores, and fine lines. Both UVA and UVB can contribute to an increased cancer risk. To ensure effectiveness, it’s essential to apply SPF at the correct time, allowing sun cream about 30 minutes to be fully absorbed by the skin.
If your SPF application gets delayed, there’s a risk it could be washed away by sweat, compromising its effectiveness. It’s also vital to keep an eye on the expiry date, while most bottles last up to 30 months, they can start losing their protective power after being opened.
Skin expert Niamh emphasised that choosing the right sunscreen is crucial, taking skin types into consideration and said: “We all have different skin types, so it is important to choose the right type of sunscreen for your skin. The SPF is commonly interpreted as how much longer skin covered with sunscreen takes to burn, compared to unprotected skin.
“So, if you burn after 10 minutes in the sun, then using a sunscreen labelled with, say, SPF15, is taken to mean that you can safely remain in the sun for 10 x 15 = 150 minutes, or two-and-a-half hours, before burning.” Niamh also recommends keeping children keeping them shaded from direct sunlight until they are at least six months old, especially during peak UV exposure hours between 11am to 3pm.
Niamh further advised parents, particularly from March to October in the UK, to be watchful about their children’s skin, making sure it’s well-covered, shaded, and protected with at least SPF 30 sunscreen on exposed areas like the face, ears, and feet.