Sun-safe summer

Protecting our skin from the harm that can be caused by exposing it to the sun is not an option. Warnings against the harm sun rays can do to our skin can be found practically everywhere. This leads us to buy and consume a number of sunscreen products throughout summer.

It is in our best interest to look out for the labelling on these products. There should be two logos on sunscreens, UVA and UVB. While protection against UVB radiation means protection against sunburn and cancer, UVA radiation causes premature skin ageing and interferences with the human immune system. UVA radiation is also an important contributor to the skin cancer risk.

The sun protection factor we usually look out for when buying these products only indicates protection against UVB radiation. We can only be sure that the product we are buying also protects us against UVA radiation when we see the UVA logo on the package.

As to the sun protection factor (SPF), alongside the traditional number indicating the level of protection, we should also find the verbal descriptors ‘low’, ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ protection. Low protection is up to factor 10, medium varies from factor 15 to factor 25, high protection from 30 to 50, and very high protection is factor 50 and over.

It is important that we are aware that no product can completely block the sun’s rays or offer total protection. Sunscreen products cannot deliver total protection from UV radiation.

Even the high SPFs do let some of the UV radiation through. In fact, to prevent consumers from being misled, the European Commission has prohibited the use of misleading terms such as ‘sun blocker’ or ‘total protection’ on sunscreen bottles.

We should always keep in mind that sunscreen products are only one of a number of measures necessary for effective protection against the sun. To be fully protected it is recommended to:

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

• keep ourselves well covered and wear hats and sunglasses when it is not possible to stay out of the sun;

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

• apply sunscreen products in sufficient quantity.

The correct application of the product is just as important as the choice of the product itself. To reach the protection indicated on the SPF, a quantity of 36 grams (six full teaspoons) of sunscreen is needed for one adult body. Statistics show that consumers use only about half this quantity. This quantity has to be re-applied after swimming or towelling to maintain protection.