As the weather gets warmer, it is important that consumers have access to accurate information and advice on sun protection products and sun-safe behaviour, to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of the sunny weather in a safe and sensible way.
Sun protection is an essential matter of public health, and sunscreens play a vital role in keeping adults and children safe when exposing their skin to the sun, as part of a sun-safe regime. Research undertaken for CTPA showed that 88% of UK adults think suncream is important for the health of their and their family’s skin in providing protection from the sun1.
Consumer information
CTPA’s annual Sun Protection Campaign contributes to the public health communications by highlighting important information about how to enjoy the sun safely. www.thefactsabout.co.uk has a dedicated section: All About Sunscreens which includes the most commonly asked consumer questions on sun protection, as well as a deeper insight into sunscreen topics with infographics and video advice from dermatologists. Here are a few of the topics:
- the different protection levels and how to understand your product’s label,
- the critical difference between sun protection products and skincare/make-up products containing SPF,
- how to protect children from the sun,
- how sunscreens are developed and tested.
Recent industry progress measuring Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
Earlier this year, CTPA welcomed the publication of two new Sun Protection Factor (SPF) test methods for cosmetic products by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). One method is in vitro, meaning that it does not require human volunteers, and one is a hybrid method, which provides a non-invasive optical assessment of the protection provided by sunscreen on human skin, without requiring a physiological skin response.
The new methods2,3 are now available for use by the cosmetics and personal care industry as alternatives to the current ISO 24444 in vivo method to measure the SPF of cosmetic products.
It is important to highlight that companies do not rely just on one measurement for the SPF value on their products: a weight of evidence is produced throughout development. Companies should select the most suitable test method for their formulations, and continue to build up and document a dossier of data that supports the final SPF and UVA protection labelled on-pack.
Dr Emma Meredith OBE, Director-General of CTPA says:
“The cosmetics industry is committed to educating its consumers on how to best use sunscreen and, in particular, how to protect children from the sun. CTPA is proud to contribute to public health communications with its annual sun protection campaign.
"Our consumer website www.thefactsabout.co.uk has a wealth of important information about how to enjoy the sun safely as we enter the warmer season, as well as being a great resource for frequently asked questions about sunscreens. As an industry, we are also driven by science and improving industry practices. The two new internationally approved and validated test methods for determining SPF (Sun Protection Factor) are examples of this innovation, ensuring that consumers can continue to have confidence in the efficacy of their sun protection products.”
Visit www.thefactsabout.co.uk/how-sunscreens-work
1 Survey conducted for CTPA by Opinium Research on a nationally and politically representative sample of 2000+ UK adults, May 2024.
2 ISO 23675:2024 - In vitro determination of sun protection factor (SPF) https://www.iso.org/standard/76616.html
3 ISO 23698:2024 - Measurement of the sunscreen efficacy by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy https://www.iso.org/standard/76699.html
