Does Sunscreen Expire?Does it Has an Expiration Date?

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Sunlight is actually considered a good thing for our body. Sunlight helps in the development of vitamin E, which is good for the skin as well as in other body functions. However, too much sunlight can also be very hazardous. In fact, intense sunlight can cause burns on the skin and it also contains harmful elements such as UV rays, which can create a lot of health problems. Because of this possibility, a lot of skin treatments and applications are now available in the market in order to provide protection and curative benefits. This is the reason why we now have sunscreens for our skin. But what is sunscreen? Does sunscreen expire?

Sunscreen is a type of topical skin application, which is similar to lotion that prevents harmful elements of the sun such as UV rays from penetrating the skin. Sunscreens are commonly used by people especially in going to trips and vacations in the beach and other sunny locations. This likewise prevents serious sunburns, which can be very painful and discomforting. Most sunscreens have Sun Protecting Factors or SPF levels in order to determine the potency of its protection to the skin. As usual, cheaper sunscreens or sun blocks have lower SPF levels such as 10 or 15 while the more advanced products contain higher SPFs that range more than a hundred.

Do these sunscreens have an expiration date? For one, sunscreens also expire. In fact, these skin products are designed to last and become stable for up to three years. These topical applications contain molecules called as homosalate and octyl salicylate. These molecules are designed to block or protect the skin from the penetration of UV radiation through filtering, absorbing and reflecting the high energy UV. However, these molecules also lose its potency and strength over time. These molecules are capable of breaking down and lose its effectiveness and function. This is the reason why sunscreens also have an expiration date.

Aside from these, sunscreens that are more exposed to higher temperatures tend to expire faster. This is why it is important for us to always keep these skin lotions inside our shelves and away from sunlight. Once sunscreen is already expired, it is a must for us to properly dispose of it. Using expired sunscreen is not only ineffective of working or function, but can also cause adverse reactions to our skin like allergies and rashes. This is the reason why it is very important for us to always get rid of items that are already beyond the said expiration date.