A new study from consumer group Choice has found several Australian sunscreens don’t offer the level of SPF promised on the label.
All the sunscreens Choice tested are labelled as offering UV 50 protection, and are currently for sale.
The lowest scoring sunscreen, Ultra Violette Lean Screen, only offered protection up to UV 4 in Choice’s tests.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the ACCC have been notified of Choice’s results.
SPF
Sun protection factor (SPF) is the rating given to products that provide a level of protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun.
Overexposure to UVR is linked to damage to the eyes and skin, and melanoma (a form of skin cancer).
Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with one person diagnosed every 30 minutes.
Sunscreens on Australian market must have a minimum SPF of 4, which protects from 75% of UVR.
Testing
Choice tested all the sunscreens on 10 volunteers in a laboratory.
They compared what UV levels caused redness in the skin, before applying the specific sunscreen, and testing how skin reacted to UV exposure.
They were then able to see how close the sunscreen compared to its claims of protection against UV 50.
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Below is the sunscreens with the lowest and highest level of protection:
Lowest
Highest
Response
Two companies whose products scored low in Choice’s testing, Ultra Violette and Bondi Sands, have responded in comments on social media.
Ultra Violette said: “We stand by the SPF claims made on our packaging. We now have two ten-panel TGA-approved SPF tests that confirm our product scores an SPF of over 60”.
Bondi Sands said: “We are aware of the recent SPF report published by Choice, but do not share their assessment of our products as it does not reflect our testing and evidence in line with the relevant regulations.”
The TGA has announced it is investigating Choice’s findings. The ACCC are yet to respond to these findings at the time of publication.
In the meantime, Choice urged consumers to continue using these sunscreens.
Choice said: “If you are using one of these sunscreens in our testing, you should continue to do so. Don’t throw out what you have, just be sure to apply it regularly and extensively.”
