SPF15 cream not enough for travellers

Thursday, 02 June 2011

Britons are not using strong enough sun cream, according to research from a medical journal.

The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin told those looking for travel insurance that SPF 30 should be the recommended cream, instead of SPF 15 which is described by guidelines from NICE as being "sufficient if applied adequately".

"Products labelled with an SPF of 30 will more reliably deliver adequate sun protection to most people who use sunscreens and would be sufficient to prevent sunburn under most circumstances," said the report.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the Centre for Public Health Excellence at NICE, added that the SPF15 recommendation is concerned with reducing skin cancer in England, and stronger creams should be used in hotter climates.

He stated that SPF 30 sun cream was necessary for people who do not apply "sufficient quantities" of SPF 15.
Britain is expected to be hit by a heatwave this week, with temperatures reaching 25C.

Posted by Noel Martin

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