Dr Nora Jaafar, a dermatologist with a decade of NHS experience, has issued a stark warning: using expired suncream can leave skin unprotected, even if it feels like it is working. She highlighted the issue after a friend suffered sunburn despite applying SPF 50.
Expired SPF Offers No Protection
"Once SPF has expired, the UV filters have been broken down. Even though you feel protected because you've put something on your skin, nothing's working," Dr Jaafar told the Express. She advises checking the back of the bottle for a small pot-shaped symbol, which shows how many months the product remains effective after opening, not from purchase.
Most suncreams lack a printed expiry date but feature this symbol with a number (e.g., 12M for 12 months). Once that period passes, the active ingredients degrade. Dr Jaafar recommends writing the opening date on the lid to track usage.
NHS Guidelines on Sunscreen Application
The NHS warns that many people apply too little sunscreen. Adults should use about six to eight teaspoons (roughly 35ml) to cover the entire body for a single application. "If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced," the NHS states. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including face, neck, ears, and scalp if hair is thinning or absent, though a wide-brimmed hat is better.
Skin Cancer Prevention
Cancer Research UK reports that nine in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer could be prevented by sun safety. The charity notes: "The sun is often strong enough to cause damage in the UK between mid-March and mid-October, even when it's cold or cloudy." Repeated sun damage also accelerates ageing, causes dark spots, and impairs skin healing, making scars more prominent.
Dr Jaafar urges people to use suncream well before the expiry date and to discard any product that has passed its effective period. Neglecting daily SPF leaves skin vulnerable to UV radiation, increasing the risk of DNA mutations and skin cancer.
