Seven little-known facts about sunscreen

We have all done this at some point at the start of summer: we head off in search of last year's sunscreen or opt to buy a new one... and then, before we even apply it, the doubts creep in. What if it has lost its effectiveness? It seems that from one year to the next they no longer serve any useful purpose...or do they?

The hard truth is that plenty is said about sun protection products and not all of it is true. Experts from Ximart Laboratories in Spain, a manufacturer of cosmetic products that includes sun creams and supplies the Mercadona supermarket chain, clear up our doubts and let us in on some secrets about this type of product.

When we were children our parents used to slather us with a generous layer of sunscreen before we went out to play in the sun. They would leave our skin so covered that we looked like tiny ghosts ....but that meant we were more protected, right? Wrong. Just because there are visible traces of cream on you does not mean better protection.

"It doesn't mean a thing. If a cream has an SPF 50+, it protects the same whether it is a clear spray, a roll-on or a cream," explains Elena Eguileor, quality director at Ximart. In other words, being plastered in white cream is not better protected.

All too often we fixate on the idea that the more expensive a product, the better it is. However, in reality, when choosing a sunscreen you can trust its effectiveness, regardless of its price. Whether they are on the shelves of the local supermarket or on a impressive stand in a pharmacy, all such products must pass rigorous quality controls.

Jacinto Cerrada, commercial director of Ximart Labs, specialists in the production of these creams, explains: "A 50+ sun protector from Mercadona is the same as a 50+ one from another brand on sale elsewhere. If we talk about Mercadona, for example, the product reaches millions of people, something that is not possible through other channels. This opens up the possibility of putting products on the market at a budget price," says Cerrada, who adds that, in fact, "we manufacture for all channels. The processes, product validation tests and quality controls are the same for all. In the end, prices depend on the channel and the quantity".

"The recommendation is not to go out in the full sun, protect yourself with sunglasses, a hat, a cover-up top....," state the experts. But the most important thing, without a doubt, is to reapply that suncream frequently while out. "That's where the protection lies," advises Cerrada.

In recent years research has begun on the damage that different types of radiation can cause to the skin.

"All our lives we have been very focused on UVB and UVA, but we have infrared, visible light, LEDs... and that is now what is being studied," says Eguileor.

This has led some vendors of different creams to claim their products also protect us against these specific radiation emissions. Therefore is it necessary to use such a light protector in enclosed spaces with LED lights? "The damage done is less than that of the sun, but it does cause you harm. The same as the famous blue light emitted by the screens on our devices. And in the long run it is much more visible," explains Eguileor.

"A sunscreen lasts on the skin for a maximum of two hours," say the lab specialists. Water-resistant ones are more durable in humid environments, but it is important to keep in mind that it is still necessary to reapply sunscreen regularly, especially "after bathing, if there is excessive sweating or after drying off with a towel," says the head of quality.

Not true. Protection is still needed.

"Skin that has an oily tendency should not apply 50+ sun protection because it has more sun filters and, consequently, more oil. We would advise an SPF 30, but reapply more often because they are lighter," Eguileor advises.

First things first: if we are looking for last year's creams, we are already in the wrong because we should have been using them throughout winter too. But let's get to the heart of the matter: the protective element in these creams does not last forever. It is guaranteed only for one year. From then on it might be protecting us, but we will never know for sure. As such it might not be protecting as much as we think, or it could even be doing nothing at all.