Sun Protection Factors - in the news

A recent article by Dr Ike Iheanacho, the editor of The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin advises people that they should use sun lotions offering a minimum SPF30. This was covered in The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, with claims that this is necessary because people do not apply sufficient sun lotion in order to achieve the claimed protection on the product.

Dr Iheanacho goes on to say that because of the reduced rate of application used by most people they are getting just half of the claimed protection. (In fact, this is an overestimation of the protection that under-applying sun lotions will give. Applying half the recommended amount of sun lotion will only give protection equal to the square root of the claimed SPF level. This means that applying half the recommended amount of an SPF15 product will only give approximately SPF4 protection, whilst half the amount of SPF30 will only give approximately SPF5½. As you can see from these figures, the difference in protection level between these two products is minimal.)


Sun Protection Factors - what to do?
It is important to urge sun bathers and everyone outdoors in hot conditions to use sufficient sun lotion! 30ml or a shot-glass-full will be required to cover the entire adult body.

At this level, an SPF15 sun lotion will filter out 93% of UVB rays, and SPF25 will filter out 96% of UVB.

People should also reapply every 2 to 3 hours and always after swimming or profuse sweating in order to maintain protection.

NICE (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) published guidance in January advising people to use a broad spectrum sun lotion with at least SPF15 protection – we agree with this advice, and have cited similar recommendations in customer eNews and our Sun leaflets.

Our Award Winning sun care ranges are natural and organic, they are also concentrated highly effective. We also have resource guidance for protection against prickly heat. Our sun care tubes come in travel and family sizes, do ask for sample sachets (try up to 3 with any online UK order - subject to stock availability etc), and see the natural difference for yourself!



This post is created with support from Ian Taylor - Information & Research Manager.