Protecting our skin during those long, hot summer days

The hot summer days have un­doubtedly arrived. Whether we like to sunbathe or not, being exposed to the sun’s rays is unavoidable.

Warnings against the harm over-exposure to the sun can cause to our skin can be found everywhere and the use of sunscreen is widely recommended even by the authorities.

Most of the damage from the sun comes from ultraviolet rays. The dangerous UV rays are UVA and UVB. UVB rays penetrate into the outer layer of the skin and damage the cells, resulting in inflamed or sunburnt skin.

UVA rays penetrate more deeply, causing direct damage to supporting tissues. This damage contributes to the signs of skin ageing. However, both UVA and UVB rays may cause different skin cancers. Protection against the harmful rays of the sun may be achieved through various products – clothing, sunglasses, parasols, and creams specifically formulated to protect the skin from the harm that sun rays may cause.

It is advisable to look out for clear labelling. In 2006, the European Commission had recommended that labels on sunscreen products should include a new UVA logo or seal on bottles. This standard logo enables us to easily recognise products that provide at least the recommended minimum level of UVA protection for a sunscreen. This logo is used throughout Europe.

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is an indication of the amount of protection a product provides against UVB light. An SPF indicates the ability of a sun protection product to filter out UVB rays.

For instance, an SPF of 15 will filter out approximately 93 per cent of UVB rays and an SPF of 30 will filter out around 96 per cent.

Moreover, the Commission has recommended that alongside the traditional sun protection factors, consumers should also find the verbal descriptors ‘low’, ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ protection.

Low protection is up to factor 10, medium varies between factor 15 to 25, high protection is from 30 to 50, and very high protection is factor 50 and over.

This additional information offers us a better guide when it comes to choosing the appropriate sunscreen product.

In 2006, the European Commission, in consultation with sunscreen manufacturers, had also issued guidelines on the labelling and testing of sun protection products.

One of the recommendations was to reduce the number of SPF numbers available to help simplify consumer choice.

Since most health experts agree that SPF 15 is the minimum recommended level, the Commission recommended that products with less than SPF15 protection should no longer be marketed.

The Commission has also prohibited the use of misleading terms, such as ‘sunblock’ or ‘total protection’ on sunscreen bottles.

This is because sunscreen products are only one of a number of measures necessary for effective protection against the sun.

No sunscreen product can provide full protection against UV radiation. To be fully protected it is recommended that:

• You avoid excessive sun exposure at peak hours, which is usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m;

• You keep yourself well covered and wear a hat and sunglasses when you have to stay in the sun;

• Babies and young children should always be kept in the shade;

• Sunscreen products should be applied in sufficient quantity. The correct application of the product is just as important as the choice of product. To reach the protection indicated on the ‘sun protection factor’ a quantity of 36 grams (six full teaspoons) of sunscreen is needed for an adult. Statistics show that consumers only use half of this quantity. Moreover, this quantity has to be reapplied after swimming or towelling to maintain protection.

customer@timesofmalta.com

odette.vella@gov.mt

Ms Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.