Once a day application of sunscreen

On this page there is information about

• Sunscreens and ultraviolet radiation
• How to check claims made by sunscreen companies
• SunSmart advice - staying safe in the sun

It is difficult to make a comment about any particular sunscreen product because their reliability and effectiveness will depend on their contents and the exact way it has been tested. This varies from product to product.

When buying a sunscreen, you need to check that it is "broad spectrum". This means it protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. These are the 2 types of ultraviolet radiation from the sun that can damage your skin.

UVB radiation can cause sunburn and is associated with the development of skin cancer. Until recently, UVA was thought to be relatively harmless. But there is increasing evidence that UVA can penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays, causing ageing of the skin and damage to the DNA. UVA may also contribute towards the development of cancer. Skin specialists say that there is no such thing as a healthy tan because a tan means damage to the skin.

The intensity of radiation from the sun varies depending on the position of the sun, the time of year and which country you are in. Generally, we recommend the use of a sunscreen of at least factor 15. This gives the best balance between protection and cost. The higher factor creams are more expensive, but do not give much more protection than factor 15. If you use

• Factor 15, only 7% of the harmful rays will get through
• Factor 30, only 4% of the harmful rays will get through
• Factor 60, only 2% of the harmful rays will get through

As you say, there are now products on the market that say they are single application and resistant to water, perspiration and friction. If you are worried about any claims made, make sure the product has been tested to COLIPA standards. The package insert should give you information about the testing that the product has had. If in doubt, contact the company. You can also seek advice from your local Trading Standards Authority if you think any misleading claims are being made for any product. These two links will take you to another page on our site that explains the law on testing sunscreens.

These products are not promoted by doctors for a number of reasons. Health professionals are not usually allowed to endorse individual products. But more importantly, some doctors and researchers are beginning to think that sun creams could be harmful because they encourage people to stay out in the sunshine for longer. They think that the protection the creams give you against burning may not actually stop you increasing your risk of malignant melanoma. There is more and more debate about this. The only way to be absolutely sure of keeping your risk of melanoma as low as possible is to keep out of the sun. And if you do go in the sun make sure you don't burn.

Do remember that it may not be safe for you to stay in the sun all day, even if you are using a sun cream that says it gives all day protection. You still need to take into account your own skin type, the intensity of the sun in the country you are in and the time of day. Having said all that, using a sun cream is better than getting burned but it is only one aspect of protecting ourselves against skin cancer. Remember - sunburn can double your risk of skin cancer.

Basically, you should keep out of the sun when it is at its hottest. You should never use a sunbed. Remember the SunSmart message

• Spend time in the shade between 11 and 3
• Make sure you never burn
• Aim to cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses
• Remember to take extra care with children
• Then use factor 15+ sunscreen

These are the main messages that skin specialists want to get across and is far more important than recommending any one product.

There is more information about preventing melanoma in the section of our site about melanoma. There is also information about how sunscreens are tested and the law in our Questions and Answer section.