The suncream mistakes all parents are making

Yes, we know getting any cream at all on a wriggling toddler is a bonus. But according to Anton Alexandroff, a consultant dermatologist at The Manor Hospital, BMI Healthcare, we all need to up the amount of suncream we’re using on our little ones because not using enough means you’re not getting the SPF that’s on the label. “When we test suncream in a laboratory we apply much more liberal amounts, but by the time you put it on as you usually do, it becomes three times less effective because you’re not using as much as used in the lab.”
“So in real life, Factor 30 becomes factor 10 or 15 and in real life, factor 50 becomes factor 25 or factor 20 merely because you’re putting on less than you should,” he continues. “If you were putting on as much as we put on in the laboratory, your skin would be white because that is how much you need to use.”
Though there’s no specific test for the amount of suncream you need to use, experts agree that you can’t have too much. As a guide, adults should aim to apply around: two teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re just covering your head, arms and neck, two tablespoons if you’re covering your entire body while wearing a swimming costume. So when in doubt, slather more on.
[Photo: Pixabay via Pexels]