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| Public confused by sunscreen labelling, say experts | Public confused by sunscreen labelling, say experts |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| There is huge confusion over the labels on sun creams, and manufacturers should all use the same rating system, says the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. | There is huge confusion over the labels on sun creams, and manufacturers should all use the same rating system, says the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. |
| A survey of 2,000 UK adults found one in five was unaware that the SPF rating does not mean protection against all sun damage - only that from UVB rays. | A survey of 2,000 UK adults found one in five was unaware that the SPF rating does not mean protection against all sun damage - only that from UVB rays. |
| Protection against UVA rays is indicated by a "star" rating. | Protection against UVA rays is indicated by a "star" rating. |
| Ultraviolet A rays cause skin-ageing and wrinkles. Both UVB and UVA rays from the sun can cause skin cancer. | Ultraviolet A rays cause skin-ageing and wrinkles. Both UVB and UVA rays from the sun can cause skin cancer. |
| The protection provided by sun creams and lotions against UVB rays, which cause sunburn, is denoted by the SPF or factor on the bottle. | The protection provided by sun creams and lotions against UVB rays, which cause sunburn, is denoted by the SPF or factor on the bottle. |
| But there are also ultraviolet A rays (UVA) to consider too, which penetrate the skin more deeply, causing it to age - but only one in three checked the UVA star rating when buying sunscreen, the survey found. | But there are also ultraviolet A rays (UVA) to consider too, which penetrate the skin more deeply, causing it to age - but only one in three checked the UVA star rating when buying sunscreen, the survey found. |
| When buying a sunscreen, you should look for the level of UVA protection (denoted by a UVA star rating) and UVB protection (denoted by the SPF). | When buying a sunscreen, you should look for the level of UVA protection (denoted by a UVA star rating) and UVB protection (denoted by the SPF). |
| The UVA star rating ranges from nought to five and indicates the percentage of UVA radiation absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to UVB. | The UVA star rating ranges from nought to five and indicates the percentage of UVA radiation absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to UVB. |
| 'Complicated' | 'Complicated' |
| Prof Jayne Lawrence, chief scientist for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: "Clearly many consumers do not realise the SPF rating applies only to the amount of protection offered against UVB rays, not UVA rays - both of which can damage the skin and cause skin cancer. | Prof Jayne Lawrence, chief scientist for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: "Clearly many consumers do not realise the SPF rating applies only to the amount of protection offered against UVB rays, not UVA rays - both of which can damage the skin and cause skin cancer. |
| "People should not have to pick their way through complicated dual ratings information to understand how sunscreen works and the amount of protection it potentially provides." | "People should not have to pick their way through complicated dual ratings information to understand how sunscreen works and the amount of protection it potentially provides." |
| Prof Lawrence said it was time for sunscreen manufacturers to provide one easy-to-understand rating, based on a simple description of the total amount of sun protection offered: low, medium, high and very high protection. | Prof Lawrence said it was time for sunscreen manufacturers to provide one easy-to-understand rating, based on a simple description of the total amount of sun protection offered: low, medium, high and very high protection. |
| Only 8% of people surveyed knew that the SPF rating on the product label referred to protection from UVB rays only. | Only 8% of people surveyed knew that the SPF rating on the product label referred to protection from UVB rays only. |
| And one in four said they did not know what the SPF rating stood for at all. | And one in four said they did not know what the SPF rating stood for at all. |
| Among those adults with children, 15% admitted that they never checked the factor of the sun cream they used. | Among those adults with children, 15% admitted that they never checked the factor of the sun cream they used. |
| Cancer Research UK recommends applying two tablespoons of sunscreen every two hours when out in the sun in the UK. | Cancer Research UK recommends applying two tablespoons of sunscreen every two hours when out in the sun in the UK. |
| Experts also advise people to stay in the shade between the hours of 11:00 and 15:00 or to cover up when out in direct sunshine between these times. | Experts also advise people to stay in the shade between the hours of 11:00 and 15:00 or to cover up when out in direct sunshine between these times. |
| Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main preventable cause of skin cancers - both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, Cancer Research UK says. | Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main preventable cause of skin cancers - both malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, Cancer Research UK says. |
| The sun is the main source of natural UV radiation but sun beds also produce artificial UV radiation. | The sun is the main source of natural UV radiation but sun beds also produce artificial UV radiation. |
| A study in the British Journal of Cancer from 2011 estimated that 86% of melanomas in the UK every year are linked to too much exposure to sunlight and sunbed use. | A study in the British Journal of Cancer from 2011 estimated that 86% of melanomas in the UK every year are linked to too much exposure to sunlight and sunbed use. |