Check the label and make sure it remains safe to use (Image: Getty)
People are being urged to check a common symbol on the back of a popular skincare product to avoid putting themselves « at risk » this spring and summer. With the weather set to turn from cold and wet to warm and sunny over the coming weeks, Brits are being warned not to « risk it » with their long-term health.
As days get hotter and the sun becomes more intense, people risk skin damage from sun exposure. It might seem fine to use what is left of an old bottle of sunscreen from last year, but there is a symbol that tells you exactly how long it is good for.
Posting on the Which? Instagram feed, a specialist said: « Heading out into the sun this summer? Then you cannot afford to ignore this symbol.
« The Period After Opening (PAO) jar symbol says how many months cosmetic products, such as sunscreen, are effective after being first opened. Now, I’m never going to remember that, so I always write the date in marker pen on the side.
« If it’s past its use-by date, don’t risk it. Get yourself a nice new bottle. »
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In the UK, most PAO symbols range from six months to two years. To check, look for the symbol that looks like a small jar with its lid open.
This symbol will contain a number and the letter ‘M’, meaning months, alongside a number. For sunscreen, the timeframe can vary, so it is worth taking note of when your bottle loses its effectiveness.
The easiest way to remember the exact day your sunscreen ‘goes off’ is to write the date it was first used on the bottle. People could also work out from there when it will ‘expire’ and add that date on too as a precaution.
Expired sunscreen can lose its effectiveness, failing to protect your skin from the sun damage you think you’re covered from. This can include conditions like sunburn or long-lasting issues like wrinkles, fine lines, leathery skin and pre-cancerous patches.
When to wear sunscreen
Despite mild, often cloudy weather in early spring and autumn, conditions can still be strong enough to cause damage, experts claim. Specialists from Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists suggest that people should take sun safety precautions between March and October.
One of those precautions includes applying suncream and keeping a bottle with them so they can reapply when necessary. These months are when the UV Index can reach three or higher, which is when people should take measures to protect themselves from the harmful effects before they happen.
The NHS claims that people need to be most vigilant between 11am and 3pm. A spokesperson for the service claimed that Brits need to « strike a balance » between protecting themselves from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.
They added: « Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy. »
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