FAQ

We're often warned about the effects of the sun on our skin, but most of us know little or nothing about what actually causes the damage... UV rays.

All UV rays are emitted from the sun, and it’s pretty tricky to avoid them. They can be reflected from sand and water, can penetrate white clouds and can even reach as far as 10 meters under water when the sun is overhead.

Some interesting facts:
UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and cause the long-term effects of premature wrinkling and aging of the skin. UVB rays penetrate only the upper layers of the skin and cause the sunburn. These high energy rays cause approximately 80% of all skin damage.
The highest energy UV ray, C, is filtered out by the ozone layer and never reaches the earth.

Don't worry, you needn’t lock yourself indoors for the summer. All that’s needed is some sunscreen, which if you chose the right factor and apply it correctly, will fully protect your skin from UV ray penetration.

We've all heard of an SPF rating (see below) but the UVA symbol, which isn’t as recognized, also measures the effectiveness of the product (UVA protection must be at least a third of the average UVB protection).

You’ll find the UVA symbol on the front and UVA star rating on the back of the sunscreen’s packaging. The UVA symbol on the front indicates that the sunscreen has at least a third of average UVA protection in relation to average UVB protection, which is the minimum requirement. The UVA star rating gives you a precise measure of the actual UVA protection level of your sunscreen product.

The UVA star rating gives you a precise measure of the actual UVA protection level of your sunscreen product. A sunscreen with one star meets the minimum requirement for UVA protection (i.e. a third of the UVB protection) whereas a product with four or five stars, offers almost the same amount of UVA as UVB protection.

We're often warned not to go below SPF 15, but have you ever wondered why this is? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and measures a product's ability to protect from UVB rays.

The SPF indicates how long a person can stay in the sun without burning, and the number you should use is actually dependent on your individual skin type and where and when you intend to be soaking up the sun.

To chose the right SPF for you, you need to consider a number of factors:
1. What is your skin type and therefore what is your skins’ own protection time?
2. How long will you be out in the sun?
3. What is the UV Index for the day? What time of the day will you be out and what activity will you be doing?

Use the Banana Boat® SPF guide to find out what SPFs & products are right for you.

Click here to see our SPF guide >

Contrary to popular belief, the application of two different SPF numbers will NOT add up to create a higher factor. For example, using an SPF 8 on top of an SPF 15 will not create SPF 23, meaning you’re not safe to stay in the sunshine 23 times longer without protection!

The only way to be fully protected from the sunshine is to determine your skin type and how long you'll be in the sun, then choose the appropriate SPF level for you. Click here to use the Banana Boat® SPF guide.

Click here to see our SPF guide >

You can get a lotion that’s SPF 50 and a Protective Oil that’s SPF 15.

There’s nothing better than seeing kids enjoying long summer days playing outside in the fresh air, but if possible, they should avoid direct sun exposure between the hours of 10am and 4pm when the sun's rays are the strongest and most harmful.

It's also advisable to bring them in every couple of hours to cool down their skin and apply another coat of Banana Boat® sun protection – for maximum protection you should re-apply every two hours. If you’re having trouble getting them to sit still for long enough, have a read of Banana Boat’s funtime in the sunshine survival guide which features top tips from mums and ITV’s Dr Chris Steele.

If your baby is younger than one year old and gets a sunburn, call your GP. If they’re older than that and are just a little red, we have a number of cooling and soothing aloe vera aftersun products.

Yes, using a sunscreen is important to prevent further sunburn and if you’re skin’s suffering, then you should use the highest SPF possible. You should also try and stay out of the sun between 10:00am and 4:00pm when the sun's rays are strongest and most harmful. Don’t forget that sunlight penetrates clouds and so does 80% of the sun's damaging rays, so be careful!

As much as we’d all like to achieve a deep, golden tan when we soak up the sunshine, our skin’s reaction to sun, either burning or tanning, is based on genetics. That’s right, our tanning ability is in fact inherited.

In general, fair-skinned people often burn and are rarely able to tan. Darker skins, with their increased melanin, have more natural protection, but no one is immune to sun damage and everyone should wear protection, meaning the SPF won’t break down in the sun.

To find out which SPF is right for you, use the Banana Boat SPF guide.

Click here to see our SPF guide >

Anyone taking medication, including children, should consult a GP before using sun protection products. Photosensitization, which is an increased sensitivity to sun exposure, is a possible side effect of certain medication, including some antibiotics, heart and blood pressure medicines, antihistamines and antidepressants. Consult your physician or pharmacist regarding photosensitization related to any prescription medications.

No, you need sunscreen all year long. Whenever you are exposed to the sun - skiing, sitting near a window, or even driving in a car – you should always wear protection as the UV rays will reach you.

AvoTriplex™ is our patented new technology that enables products to maintain their UVA protection for longer. The result is 100% photostable sun protection!

This triple-packed technology features:
UVA Absorber: Powerful Avobenzone
Stabilizer: Prevents the Avobenzone from breaking down under the sun
Enhancer: "Synchronizes" energy for more efficient protection