Don't get burnt by misleading sun screens

You get what you pay for when it comes to sun screens, says Which? More expensive products excelled in tests, while some cheaper products could put your health at risk.

In the industry standard tests carried out for Which? four sun screens labelled as sun protection factor (SPF) 15 failed to live up to the claim. Malibu and Wilkinsons were particularly poor, giving protection of only SPF6.9 and SPF6.3 respectively. Boots Soltan (SPF8.7) and Asda (SPF11.5)* also failed.

These failures could have serious health implications. An SPF of 15 gives more than 90 per cent protection against UVB rays, but if the SPF is actually much lower, people could risk damaging their skin by unknowingly soaking up too much sun.

All of the manufacturers whose products failed the tests disputed the findings, claiming they contradicted the results of their own tests.

Which? also tested Tesco's SPF15 Sun Protection Lotion, which was supplied by the supermarket but wasn't yet available in the shops, and found it had an SPF of just 9.2. Tesco had reached the same conclusion as Which? in its own tests and had re-labelled the product before selling it as SPF8.

Which? wants other manufacturers to take these findings seriously and re-label, reformulate or withdraw their products.

Nigel Strick, Chairman of the Trading Standards Institute, says:

"At the moment, consumers have no guarantee about a sun screen from its label. This means, despite using sun screens properly, they can still be at risk. There must be clear and consistent laws, with criminal sanctions, to control these products and protect the public."

Neil Fowler, editor, Which?, says:

"As well as asking trading standards to investigate our findings, we're also demanding that government departments strengthen the regulations on sun screen testing.

"At the moment, the best way to be sure you're getting proper protection is to choose one of our Best Buy products."

The Best Buy products all cost upward of £10 and exceeded SPF15. They are Ambre Solaire, Lancome, L'Oreal and Piz Buin.

*Asda replaced the product Which? tested with a new formulation in March 2006.

Sun screens you can trust

· Garnier Ambre Solaire Moisturising Protection Milk: Which? SPF rating 18.1 (Best Buy)

· Lancome Soleil Soft-Touch Moisturising Sun Lotion: Which? SPF rating 16.7 (Best Buy)

· L'Oreal Solar Expertise Advanced Protection Lotion: Which? SPF rating 17.8 (Best Buy)

· Piz Buin In Sun: Which? SPF rating 17.5 (Best Buy)

· Nivea Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion: Which? SPF rating: 12.9

· Superdrug Solait Suncare Sunshine Defence: Which? SPF rating: 12.4

· The Body Shop Protect It! Sun Lotion For Body: Which? SPF rating: 12.6

Sun screens that failed the Which? tests

· Malibu High Protection Lotion: Which? SPF rating 6.9 (Don't Buy)

· Boots Soltan Sun Lotion: Which? SPF rating 8.7 (Don't Buy)

· Wilkinsons Wilko Sun Protection System: Which? SPF rating 6.3 (Don't Buy)

· Asda Sun System Lotion: Which? SPF rating 11.5

· Don't Buys are products that have performed extremely poorly in tests.

30 June 2006

Research

An independent laboratory tested the SPF of each of the sun screens to strict industry standards.

To pass the Which? UVB test, the SPF15 labelled sun screens had to have an average SPF of at least 12. This allows for variations between volunteers and the difficulty of measuring skin redness.

But Which? thinks manufacturers should ensure that the SPF is at least that stated on the bottle. All Which? Best Buys have an average SPF of 15 or more and at least a 'satisfactory' UVA protection rating.

More info

What about the SPF value - what does that mean? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and the value (anything from 2 to 60) refers to the amount of time longer you can be in the sun before you burn. So the concentration of chemicals is higher as the SPF value increases.

Your skin tone is a clue to how sensitive your skin will be to the sun´s rays.

Melanin is a natural pigment occurring in the hair, skin and iris that is responsible for your skin tone. People with light skin have less melanin than do people with dark skin, and exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of additional melanin, resulting in what we know as a tan. The function of this melanin production is to absorb UV rays and protect skin cells from damage. Depending on an individual´s natural coloring (based on the amount of melanin), some people will withstand the sun´s rays longer before burning than others. A fair person needs greater protection than a person with darker pigmentation, and should use a sunscreen with a higher SPF, like an Ocean Potion sunscreen with a 50 SPF.

Apply sunscreen about a half hour before being in the sun.

Apply sunscreen on 20 to 30 minutes before heading outside to give the ingredients time to start working. Allowing your sunscreen to soak in thoroughly and dry on the surface with help it to last longer. Swimming before your sunscreen is dry will most likely wash it right off, rendering it ineffective. Young children are often too excited to wait to have sunscreen applied once you get to the beach, so it definitely a good idea to apply their first application at home so it can soak in and dry while you are traveling to the beach or pool.

Use plenty of sunscreen for optimal protection.

People usually use too much of a product - shampoo, hair gels and perfumes are classic examples. However, sunscreen and sunblock are the exception to the rule - people use much too little! You need more than you think you do. An average-sized person should use at least one ounce of sunscreen or sunblock - enough to fill a shot glass - on your body, and another teaspoon or two on your face.

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher to get basic sun protection.

Everyone´s skin reacts to the sun differently, and will burn at different rates. For basic sun protection, always use a sunscreen that has an SPF 15 or higher and that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Look for products that are "broad spectrum," since these will protect you from all of the different kinds of rays. Even using SPF 15 as your starting point, it can take some experimenting to find the SPF level that is right for you. Generally, people with fair skin who burn easily need a higher SPF, but don´t let a medium or dark complexion fool you: all skin can burn, and it is important to always wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater to protect your skin from the sun´s ageing and potential carcinogenic effects. You may also want to find a chemical free sunscreen depending on how sensitive your skin is. There are several brands out there including one called Mexitan which offers both sun screen and tanning oils. http://www.mexitan.com/

Enjoy being outdoors in the morning and in the evening to avoid the sun´s strongest rays.

While all sun exposure will cause some degree of damage to your skin, timing your sun exposure intelligently can help minimize that damage. The best time to enjoy the sun is in the early morning or late afternoon. The sun is strongest between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, and sun exposure during these hours can quickly burn even protected skin. If you must be in the sun between 10 and 4, sit in the shade as often as possible and be sure to use protective sun screen and clothing. Remember the "shadow rule": if your shadow is smaller than you or is non-existent, take sun precautions by seeking shade or covering up. If your shadow is longer than you are, the sun´s rays are not as damaging as they are during their peak hours, but you should still wear a sunscreen with and SPF of at least 15.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Removing terms like ‘100 per cent protection’ will help dispel the myth that using sunscreen means you can lie out in the sun for hours without having to worry about skin damage. No sunscreen offers total protection.”

Sources:

http://beach.lifetips.com/cat/60320/sunscreen/

http://www.which.co.uk/press/press_topics/product_news/which_magazine/Dont_get_burnt_by_misleading_sun_screens_571_86296.jsp

http://www.yaoh.co.uk/health-issues4.html

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