This is the only time you should not use sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen everyday is a must, and it’s even more important to keep on top of your sun care routine in the summer, when the sun is out and UV levels are high.
However, there is one scenario in which you should not apply your sunscreen, experts have warned - and that’s if your sunscreen has expired.
Using expired sunscreen could result in adverse effects, such as sunburn and skin irritation. Experts at Tropic Skincare are urging Britons to check the expiry dates on the back of their bottles of sunscreen before using them.
The warning comes after TikTok user Lex, who goes by the handle @alexisholly on the video platform, shared a video that showed a mysterious rash appearing on her back and shoulders after she got sunburnt on holiday.
In the clip, Lex’s skin is red and appears to have small blisters and bumps across the exposed area. She suggested in her caption that she misused her sunscreen, which led to the reaction, and advised viewers to "use suncream always" and to reapply it consistently.
Susie Ma, skincare expert and founder of Tropic Skincare, advises: "It’s extremely important to check that your sun cream is in date before trusting it to protect your skin.
"At Tropic, we've decided to make things simpler for our customers by including a best-before (BBE) date on all of our products instead, which clearly shows when to use the product until, in date form.
"Although it’s not a legal requirement for beauty products, this date tells you when the formulation stops being it's most fresh and effective. It's completely safe to continue enjoying your Tropic products up until their expiration date.
"Checking for the correct symbols allows you to see if your sun cream will give you the full range of benefits advertised as well as the right level of SPF. When buying SPF, look for products that print expiry dates in full view so you can make full use of their lifespan."
Most sunscreen and cosmetic products have an hourglass or jar symbol on the back of the product that shows how long the product lasts before it expires.
The hourglass symbol indicates that the product must be used within 30 months of manufacturing, whether it has been opened or not. Meanwhile, the jar symbol, which is shown as a wide jar with the lid partially opened, is usually accompanied by a number and the letter ‘M’, which refers to how long the product can be open before it expires.
For example, if you see a ‘12M’ by the open jar symbol, that means the sunscreen will last for 12 months once opened. After the 12 months, it will be expired.
What happens if I use expired sunscreen?
Expired sunscreen means the product is no longer effective at protecting your from UV rays, since the active ingredients in the sunscreen start to decompose and become inactive once opened.
This can lead to sunburn, because the sunscreen will not offer the same level of SPF protection that is advertised on the bottle.
For some people, using expired sunscreen can also cause allergic reactions, such as redness and irritation on the skin.
How do I spot expired sunscreen?
According to Ma, there are four ways to check if your sunscreen has expired:
Check the markings on the back
"The best way to make sure your sun cream is not expired is to check the jar and hourglass symbol on the back label of your product. These will give you a guide on how long before the ingredients will start to decompose. As this relies on you remembering when you first opened a product, we make it even easier by printing a use-by date instead."
Check its consistency
"If you find that the consistency of your sun cream has changed, particularly if it has separated or gone lumpy, then it’s probably time for a replacement!"
Smell it!
"Expired sun cream will often change in smell, especially if it is made from active ingredients. Checking for new or weird smells can give you a good idea of where your sunscreen is in its lifespan."
Look for products with clear expiration dates
"You need to ensure that the expiration date is clearly marked on the main packaging and not just the box (which will often end up in the bin after its first use). This way you can easily see how long before its protection starts to reduce."
Read more about sun safety:
Are cold or hot showers better for cooling you down? (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
How and when to replenish electrolytes as UK weather heats up (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
A complete guide to sun protection and SPFs (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
