A skincare doctor is warning holidaymakers and sunseekers to check the back of their sunscreen bottles before applying them, saying expired products may leave skin exposed rather than protected. Failing to do so could result in painful sunburn and preventable skin damage, even when people believe they have taken the right precautions.
Dr Nora Jaafar, who has 10 years of experience working in the NHS, shared the advice after a friend sent her a photo of sunburn despite having covered herself in SPF 50. “A friend of mine sent me a picture [of her sunburns] after slathering her body in SPF 50, and [we] can clearly see something’s gone wrong,” she said. Dr Nora explained that her first response was to ask her friend to check the back of the bottle to see whether the sunscreen had expired.
Like many everyday products, sunscreen does not last indefinitely and should be replaced once it is out of date. However, unlike food items on supermarket shelves, sun protection products do not always display a clear expiry date on the packaging.
Instead, many bottles feature a small open-jar or “pot” symbol on the back. This symbol usually includes a number showing how many months the product remains effective after it has been opened, rather than from the date it was bought.
Dr Nora said that once sunscreen has passed this period, its protective ingredients may no longer work as intended. “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.
“So, when you do have SPF, try and write the date that you opened it onto the lid. Even if that’s on the inside, just to remind yourself.”
The NHS also advises that many people do not use enough sunscreen to get the level of protection stated on the bottle. As a general rule, adults should use about six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen when covering the whole body.
The health service warns that applying sunscreen too thinly reduces its effectiveness. It should be used on all exposed areas, including the face, neck, ears and the head for those with thinning hair or no hair, although wearing a wide-brimmed hat offers better protection.
The cosmetic dermatologist also claims that, even though the bottles say these products can last for months, people should use them up well before the expiry date if they plan to stay sun-safe. Skipping daily SPF exposes your skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, increasing your risk of DNA mutations and, in turn, your risk of skin cancer.
Cancer Research UK states that nine in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer could be prevented by staying safe in the sun. It added: “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.”
People should also be aware that repeated sun damage can cause premature signs of ageing, stubborn dark spots, and long-term inflammation. Consistent damage over time alters how skin repairs itself, making scars and post-breakout marks more prominent and permanent.
