This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. So next time you won’t need to ask “Does sunscreen expire? ” - because now you know! If this means you might want to stock up on a new bottle or two, check out our vetted selection of this year’s best sunscreens and tanning products. If it’s watery or smells funny, it’s probably spoiled, according to Consumer Reports. When a bottle is exposed to heat, say in a hot beach bag or tossed on your lounge chair, the lotion inside can undergo chemical changes.ĭiscard sunscreen that’s undergone noticeable changes in color, texture or consistency. Heat and sun can make sunscreen less effective before the expiration date.Ĭhemical sunscreens work on the notion of absorbing and scattering UV rays. When you have it at the beach or pool, place the container in the shade or wrapped with a towel. 1 However, in sunscreen products that expire in less than three years, manufacturers are required to print an expiration date on the label. In these cases, the FDA does not require an expiration date to be printed on the products packaging. It’s best tucked away in a cool, dark cabinet, which will shield it from unnecessary exposure to excessive heat or direct sun. Not All Sunscreens Have Expiration Dates Most sunscreens have a three-year shelf life. Adobe Keeping Your Sunscreen Safeīe mindful of where you store your sunscreen. Three years later, any remaining lotion should be tossed. You may wish to write the date of purchase on the bottle yourself. The FDA requires the same expiration date labeling requirements for sunscreens as over-the-counter medications, so sunscreen bottles must have an expiration date unless they’ve been tested to work as advertised for at least three years. You also need a broad-spectrum sunscreen that you apply liberally and frequently. To prevent damage from UV rays, you should wear proper, protective clothing. Increased heat, light and humidity make sunscreen degrade more rapidly. Storing the bottle in a hot or humid area can quickly break down many of the active ingredients that block UV rays. Stashing your sunscreen in a hot car, or on your porch for days, can break down product integrity. Too much exposure to sunlight can cause long-term health issues. The general shelf life of sunscreen is about three years, as long as it’s been stored in a cool, dry area, explains Dr. Even if the sunscreen isn’t technically past its expiration date, but you notice any product weirdness such as separationif oily liquid comes out before the lotion when you squeeze the tubethat’s a sign the formula is breaking down, says Kizoulis.
#DOES SUNSCREEN EXPIRE SKIN#
UVB rays cause sunburns and are more seriously implicated than UVA rays in skin cancer and aging. UVA rays also play a role in cancer formation. UVA rays, which make up most of the sunlight that reaches us, are longer wavelengths that cause premature aging along with eye damage. There are two main types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reach the earth from the sun - UVA and UVB. What You Need To Know About Sun Protection And Sunscreen Using sunblock properly lowers the risk of skin damage and premature aging - not to mention painful sunburns - even if you’re spending all your summer days out on the beach (lucky you!).īut have you ever caught yourself wondering, does sunscreen expire? When did you buy that half-empty bottle of sunscreen, anyway? Here’s an easy guideline to follow: If you can’t remember when you bought the bottle, it might be time to toss it. “If you have the same bottle on Labor Day that you bought for Memorial Day, then you are likely not using enough.Sunscreen might be one the best tools you have to protect your skin from the dangerous UV rays of the sun.
#DOES SUNSCREEN EXPIRE FULL#
“If you are using sunscreen properly, you are using about one ounce to cover the full body, and you are reapplying sunscreen every two hours,” he says. “You may not know how long a sunscreen sat on the shelf at the store before you purchased it, so it may be impossible to determine when that three-year mark is up.”Īnother way to cut down on leftover sunscreen? Use more of it.
“I generally recommend a new sunscreen every season,” he says. Changes in consistency could signify that the product’s ingredients are no longer active, which “means that you have a false sense of protection against the sun and are more likely to develop a sunburn.”Įven unopened sunscreens can lose efficacy over time, Zeichner says, so it’s best to be cautious. “If a product does not look, smell or feel the way it did when you originally purchased it, you should discard it,” Zeichner says. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
However, you should still use common sense to determine whether your sunscreen is expired, says Dr. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered.
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