Expert advice: Stay safe in the sun

The sun has finally arrived in the Royal Borough, and although we'll have to wait and see how long it will last, some top tips have been released by trading standards officers about keeping safe in the rays.

The advice comes from the council to highlight concerns about 'confusing and misleading' information on sunscreen products, and the worries about the public's health being put at risk by ambiguous labelling.

Officers aim to unravel the mysteries of UVA, UVB and SPF, and their advice follows a recommendation to the sunscreen industry by the European Commission to make labelling on products easier to understand and make it clear what level of protection is provided.

Their advice is designed to help consumers unravel the mysteries of UVA, UVB and SPF, and follows a European Commission recommendation to the sunscreen industry to make the labelling on sunscreen products easier to understand and provide clearer information on the level of protection provided.

What Trading Standards says:

• The standard Sun Protection Factor (SPF) used on sunscreen labelling only indicates the level of protection against UVB radiation, which is the cause of sunburn.  Most do not indicate the level of protection from UVA radiation which causes premature skin ageing, interferes with the human immune system and is a major contributor to the risk of skin cancer.

• It is recommended to look out for a standardised logo for UVA protection (the letters UVA inside a circle) to be used alongside the SPF currently used. By buying sunscreen with the logo, consumers will know the product contains a minimum UVA protection.

• Remember that any SPF over 50 ceases to become any more effective. It is recommended that the equivalent of six full teaspoons of a sunscreen with an SPF of 15-20, frequently reapplied, should be sufficient for normal adult skin.

• The European Commission recommendation also calls on the sunscreen industry to stop using terms such as “sun block” and “total protection” on their labelling because sunscreen products cannot deliver total protection from UV radiation.

Extra eye advice:

• Wear sunglasses during the summer months to protect the eyes from sun damage.
• Always buy sunglasses that comply with British Standard BS 1836:2005.
• Take note of the various filter categories ranging from 0 - used mainly for fashion which do not significantly reduce the glare from bright sunlight - to 4, which are the most suitable for very bright conditions.