SPF50+ - sunscreen revolution or marketing ploy?

Sunburn is not fun, just ask Malin Ackerman from The Heartbreak Kid. Source: Supplied

SPF indicated how long it takes skin to burn in the sun
Sunscreen deteriorates with time so look at the used by date
There is little difference between SPF30+ and SPF50+

THE SALE of SPF50+ sunscreen has been given the green light in Australia, making way for the biggest change to sunscreen standards since SPF30+ in the 1990s.

The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) gave the go-ahead to the new ratings, bringing us in line with the US, Europe and Britain.

But in a country which has the highest rate of skin cancer, in the world, why have we had to wait until now?

And what does this mean for consumers and sun-lovers?

Here's everything you need to know under the sun about SPF 50+ sunscreen:

So, what is the difference between an SPF30+ and an SPF50+ sunscreen?

"SPF (sun protection factor) is a genuine clinical measurement of how long it takes your skin to burn", says Associate Professor Jane Hanrahan from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney. "So if it takes your skin 10 minutes to burn without sunscreen, it would take you 300 minutes with an SPF30+ and 500 minutes with an SPF 50+"

When applied correctly, an SPF 30+ guards against 96.7 per cent of UVB rays, while an SPF 50+ takes protection to 98 per cent.

Will SPF50+ revolutionise the sunscreen industry or is it just a marketing ploy?

"It's a genuine change to ensure we've caught up with the rest of the world," says Professor Hanrahan. "But the change was actually to the labelling and not necessarily the product. Many of the sunscreens labelled as SPF30+ in Australia were in effect SPF 50+, it's just that they weren't allowed to be labelled or sold as such here.

So, if we were already wearing SPF50+ in many of our sunscreens, why did it take so long to approve the change?

The TGA was looking at both sides of the argument before they made a decision, says Hanrahan. While some people thought it was a positive step to giving Australians the best sun protection possible, some dermatologists worried that if companies labelled sunscreen as SPF50+, people would stay out in the sun even longer, believing that they had a "shield of armour on."

I've got a stack of 30+ sunscreen in my cupboard at home, do I need to update my products to SPF50+?

"There is definitely no need to throw out any tubes of SPF30+ sunscreen recently purchased, as it still provides a perfectly good level of sun protection. SPF50+ simply provide more advanced levels of protection from both UVA and UVB rays," says Anna Webster, Brand Manager for Banana Boat sunscreens.

"It's probably not necessary," adds Hanrahan, "but the other point about having a stack in your cupboards is that sunscreen does deteriorate so if it's been in your cupboard for a few years, it's probably better to go and buy some anyway.

SAFETY PUSH: Beach lifeguard Lee Bowman slaps on some sunscreen before going on duty. Picture: Brett Faulkner

Surely a higher protection sunscreen will be thicker, whiter and more difficult to apply?

Not so, says Anna Webster of Banana Boat products. "What I think Australians will find surprising, is that our Banana Boat SPF50+ lotions are no thicker, no greasier and contain no more chemical than our lower SPF sunscreens. Higher protection therefore does not mean tougher application."

Right, so we've now got SPF50+ in Australia, but some countries sell sunscreens up to SPF100+, are we missing out on this as well?

"When you have SPF50+ sunscreen, you're blocking something like 98 per cent of the UVB rays, but when you get to SPF100+ is something like 99 per cent, so there's very little gain for that extra amount of SFP," says Professor Hanrahan.

Are our current lower SPF sunscreens also improving as well?

Yes, says Webster. "SPF30 and below are also being improved as part of the new Australian Standard. Improved UVA protection. Under the new Australian Standard, all sunscreens will require a higher level of UVA (aging) protection than was legislated in the past. This will better aid in the prevention of premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer (non-melanoma skin cancers have been closely linked to lifetime UV exposure).