Melody Fletcher and Hannah MacDonald, MailOnline
Updated on June 15, 2024 at 15:31 and June 15, 2024 at 15:39
Anti-ageing experts have warned about the dangers of not paying attention to expiry dates on sunscreen.
Liz Wadden, from Nova Scotia, Canada, went viral on TikTok earlier this week after she challenged her 78,800 followers to pay attention to the symbol on the back of sunscreen bottles.
The social media star, who shares “facial yoga” techniques to look younger, reminded her viewers to pay attention to the expiry date on the back of their sunscreen bottle when opening it for the first time.
Sunscreens can usually be used for up to a year after opening, but effectiveness varies by brand.
The bottle usually has an illustration of a pot with the lid removed, with “6M,” “12M,” or “24M” written next to it to indicate how long it will last.
“Over time, the active ingredients in sunscreen can break down and become less effective at protecting your skin from harmful UV rays,” Liz wrote in the TikTok caption.
She further noted that over time, the consistency can change and the product’s effectiveness can also decrease.
Liz adds: “Expired sunscreen will change texture and may harden or run, and won’t apply evenly to your skin.”
Thirdly, the expert highlighted that expired sunscreen can also cause skin irritation, urging her followers to “better safe than sorry.”
Finally, Liz also reminded her followers about the best storage conditions for sunscreen.
She adds: “Heat and sunlight can speed up the breakdown of sunscreen ingredients, so even if the product hasn’t expired, improper storage can reduce its effectiveness.”
It comes after Dr Elizabeth Blakeway-Manning, a consultant dermatologist in Yorkshire and medical ambassador for the Melanoma Foundation, shared her top tips to MailOnline for staying safe outdoors.
According to Cancer Research UK, the incidence of skin cancer has more than doubled since the 1990s, and nine in 10 cases are caused by exposure to the sun.
Skin cancers are broadly divided into two groups: melanoma, which begins in the skin’s pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, and non-melanoma skin cancer, which begins primarily in keratinocytes, the main type of cell found in the epidermis, or top layer of the skin.
Melanoma is by far the deadliest type, accounting for nearly three times the number of non-melanoma deaths each year.
In total, more than 3,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK and around 10,000 people die from the disease in the US each year.
Too much UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds can damage the DNA in your skin cells, causing them to start multiplying out of control and potentially causing skin cancer.
According to skin cancer charity The Melanoma Foundation, exposure to UV rays can also cause premature ageing of the skin, including wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.
But while sunscreen is essential for UV protection, there are other ways to protect your skin from the sun’s rays.
Clothing is an important form of protection
Your first line of defense is clothing, and be sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed areas.
Clothing absorbs or blocks harmful UV rays
But as the day heats up, experts say it’s a “natural urge” to remove clothing.
This may mean exposing skin, making it important to apply cream to these areas.
Dr Blakeway Manning, consultant dermatologist at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, recommends always wearing a hat, such as a hat with a legionnaire flap at the back or a wide-brimmed hat.
This is because the forehead, scalp, and ears are particularly vulnerable.
Shade provides UV protection
For those who don’t like the heat, the shade provides a welcome respite.
But it’s also a good way to protect your skin from harsh UV rays.
According to experts, shade, along with clothing, is the most effective way to protect against UV rays.
If shade is difficult to find, it is advisable to use temporary structures such as gazebos, sails or sports umbrellas.
The best sunscreen is a broad spectrum, non-greasy SPF30+.
Broad spectrum sunscreen protects you from both types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays (UVA and UVB).
“As a parent, set an example and apply it not only to your child’s skin but also to your own skin,” says Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Foundation.
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside so it has time to dry properly, and it will also help prevent the sunscreen from getting into your eyes if you sweat..
It’s also important to pay special attention to your ears and nose, two areas that many people tend to forget.
“If you use technical protective equipment, be sure to apply an oil-free sunscreen beforehand so as not to compromise the effectiveness of the product,” the expert added.
Check the expiration date of your sunscreen
Sunscreen has an expiration date.
Although the expiration date is printed on the outside of the container, you should still use a new sunscreen purchase each year, as moisture, high temperatures, direct sunlight and possible contamination can cause it to deteriorate faster.
We recommend writing the date of first use on the bottle to help you remember how long it has been since it was opened.
Even if you use sunscreen once a day, be sure to reapply it.
Even if you’re using a once-daily sunscreen, we recommend reapplying it every two hours.
Experts say that no matter how diligently you apply sunscreen, there will always be areas of your body that are missed, leaving certain areas of skin vulnerable throughout the day.
Even products that are used once a day can come off due to sweat, water, wiping off dirt, etc., especially if you are doing strenuous exercise outdoors.
Wear lightweight, tightly woven fabrics
Dr Blakeway-Manning and Ms Baker said it’s best to wear lightweight, tightly woven clothing when out in the sun.
Tightly woven fabrics allow less UV rays to penetrate.
Additionally, many clothes, especially sportswear intended to be worn outdoors, have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) labelling which is worth paying attention to.
Avoid exposure to light
Experts say many people suffer from sunburn due to the weather.
They claim that starting your activities early in the morning when the weather is mild can often lead to hot days later, which can result in sunburn.
Additionally, you may get sunburned on cloudy days, as the clouds offer little protection from UV rays.
Check the UV index on weather forecast websites to find out if you need sun protection.
Experts recommend using sunscreen if your UV rating is 3 or above..
Please do not use sunbeds
Many people have a desire to tan their skin, whether that be through tanning beds or faking it.
However, sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning salons emit high-intensity UV rays with the aim of causing a rapid tan. Sunburn is a response to skin damage caused by excessive exposure to UV rays. This increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Signs of skin damage aren’t always evident for up to 20 years.
Skin cancer usually starts as a new or changing skin mark or mole that may later develop a scab or bleed.
Dr Blakeway-Manning and Baker stressed that there is no such thing as a healthy UV-induced tan, saying: “Tan is fake and never use a tanning bed. It’s also important to remember that fake tans do not protect you from UV rays, so protection from the sun is still important.”
Vitamin D requires sunlight
Despite the need to protect your skin from UV rays, they also have some benefits.
Vitamin D is known to be produced most abundantly when the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health.
Vitamin D is produced when the sun’s ultraviolet B rays (UVB) interact with a provitamin called 7-DHC in the skin.
This system is very efficient, and a relatively short period of exposure can stimulate the production of vitamin D. However, the amount of UV radiation an individual absorbs from the sun varies based on biological, environmental, and behavioral factors, so when it comes to sun exposure and vitamin D, one rule doesn’t fit everyone.
People with risk factors for skin cancer or who have had skin cancer in the past are encouraged to prioritize reducing UV exposure and supplementing with vitamin D, especially if their vitamin D levels are known to be deficient.
In fact, NHS advice is that everyone should consider taking a supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily over the autumn and winter.
