Everything you need to know about sunscreen use, including for children and pets | Credits: Shutterstock
Ultraviolet radiation is not a myth; it’s a risk as it can cause burns, spots, immune system alterations, cataracts, infections, and skin cancer.
With temperatures rising in Spain and many other European countries as the potentially hottest summer on record approaches, it’s vital to protect ourselves from the sun, especially when going to the beach or simply for a stroll, making it more critical than ever to know how to do it, and discern myth from reality.
In this article, Euro Weekly explains whether your sunscreen from another country is of good quality, whether children need sunscreens, whether it expires, whether dogs should use it, and whether it’s safe to use if you’re breastfeeding, and more.
Is last year’s sunscreen still usable?
Once the container is unsealed and opened, last year’s sunscreen should no longer be used. Over time, sunscreens oxidise and lose their effectiveness.
The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and the European Commission explain that, after a year, once the container is opened, the protection may not be adequate and therefore advise against using it again the following year.
How frequently should sunscreen be used?
In a one-page advice statement, the AEMPS recommends applying sunscreen every two hours, as well as after swimming, drying off, or sweating.
“Two hours is how long sunscreen lasts before degrading on the skin,” Eduardo Noguera, Clinical Head of the Dermatology Department at the Valencian Institute of Oncology, explained. “This time is shortened if there has been prolonged bathing or exercise.”
José Aguilera Arjona, a biologist specialised in Photobiology, and national coordinator of the Spanish Group of Photobiology of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), told the Science Media Centre, that when it comes to everyday activities, such as going to the supermarket or the local store, going for coffee or to the office, or simply relaxing on the terrace, even in the shade, applying sunscreen once in the morning should be plenty.
However, Aguilera said that when engaging in other activities, such as exercising, swimming, or going to the beach, it should be applied every hour and a half to two hours.
Both experts advised SMC that water-resistant sunscreens (also known as waterproof) are more suitable for sports, sweating, or swimming, as they adhere better to the skin. However, they agreed that the two-hour reapplying tip still goes.
When and how much should I apply each time?
The AEMPS recommends using two extended lines on the fingers to protect the face and two tablespoons for the body (about 30 ml). If you use less, protection is also reduced significantly, which is not recommended at all.
When applying, the AEMPS emphasises the importance of covering your entire body thoroughly, especially if your skin is sensitive. Remember to apply to the lips, ears, bald spots, behind your legs and arms, and make sure to use it about an hour before exposing yourself to the sun.
Types of sunscreens
To avoid confusion regarding protection against different types of ultraviolet radiation, the European Commission’s regulations on sunscreens require sunscreen producers to use straightforward labelling, such as “low protection,” “medium protection,” “high protection,” or “very high protection,” on all packaging.
The AEMPS recommends combining products that protect against both UVB and UVA radiation with other protective measures such as clothing, hats, and sunglasses.
The American Cancer Society explains that UVB rays have more energy and are a more potent cause of at least some types of skin cancer.
However, they add that UVA and UVB rays can damage skin and cause skin cancer. There are no safe UV rays. Everyone’s skin reacts differently to UV (ultraviolet) rays, but anyone can get skin cancer.
It is also crucial to recognise that nearly half of UV radiation is received between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest, meaning that is when we should all be more mindful about protecting ourselves. Even on a cloudy day, you can be sunburned by UV radiation, the US Environmental Protection Agency said.
Sunscreens from other countries
“The effectiveness of sunscreens at an international level is practically the same,” explains Aguilera Arjona, although he notes that each country has its specific regulations. “Europe has a recommendation, from 2006, on how labelling should be.”
Aguilera stated that all sunscreens adhere to the same ISO standards, which are international regulations that specify whether a sunscreen is broad-spectrum (protecting against both UVB and UVA), water-resistant, or has a specific SPF level.
“A sunscreen that is 50 plus in the United States,” he compares, “is the same in Australia, Japan, and Spain or Europe.”
Clothing and other items with UPF
Sunscreens use chemical filters that absorb ultraviolet rays. They can be combined with other substances and are available in various forms, including lip balms, gels, and invisible sprays, which can be helpful in specific areas and conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, acne, or psoriasis. However, experts warn they can cause such problems as allergies, toxicity, and irritation.
Physical filters, on the other hand, act as a physical barrier that reflects and disperses ultraviolet rays. These include everything from clothing to umbrellas to opaque patches. The protection factor of each item must be taken into consideration. It is measured in UPF units, similar to the SPF of sunscreens, which compares the time it takes for a person to burn with that of a piece of fabric.
For simplicity purposes, the thicker and heavier the clothes you wear under the sun, the more protection you will have.
Polyester or rayon fabrics protect more than cotton. Synthetic or semi-synthetic fabrics, or cotton, protect more than fabrics made with linen.
However, the AEMPS warns that no filter, clothing, or sunscreen will protect your skin 100 per cent, so it is highly recommended to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, particularly between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sunscreens and children
The European Commission and the AEMPS advise against using sunscreens on children six months or younger, as toddlers absorb chemicals more quickly, and this could have toxic effects. It is best to avoid babies’ exposure to direct sunlight at all times.
After six months, parents should continue to avoid prolonged exposure and use only sunscreens with pediatric formulations and the highest SPF possible.
Generally, it is recommended to avoid exposing children to sunlight until they are at least three years old. Even then, ensure they have protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses.
Breastfeeding and sunscreens
Regular sunscreens, which, as we have seen, typically contain chemical filters, are absorbed through the skin and can be passed into breast milk. Although the risk is low, they are not recommended during breastfeeding.
Instead, experts highly recommend you use mineral sunscreens. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid sunlight.
“It is recommended to avoid the sun and, if you are going to use sunscreens, use mineral sunscreens,” Aguilera Arjona advised. However, they should not contain nanoparticles because they can penetrate the skin.
How about pets?
All animals are sensitive to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. In the case of dogs and cats, they can develop burns and tumors where the hair is absent or very short, such as “the abdomen, the inner thighs, the nose, eyelids, and ears,” Maria Luisa Fernández Miguel, clinical veterinarian specialising in companion animals and president of the College of Veterinarians of Tenerife, told Science Media Centre.
To prevent complications, Fernández Miguel recommends avoiding direct and prolonged sun exposure. It is best to take them out for a walk very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
If you have no choice but to take them out during peak sunlight hours (10 am-4 pm), use specific sunscreens (adapted to each species) on exposed areas, especially in animals with light-coloured and pink skin.
“A frequent case in veterinary clinics is squamous cell carcinoma, common in the ear pavilions, eyelids, and nose of animals with pink mucous membranes and white hair,” explains the expert. “If these areas have pigmentation, that is, if the skin is naturally darker, whether black or brown, they are also to some extent protected from solar radiation,” she adds. In animals with dark skin, sun exposure can lead to melanomas.
It’s time to enjoy the sun and the beaches, but always keeping in mind that we must prioritise health over all else. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “it is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver.” Publilius Syrus had his version: “Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.”
