This means you’re at risk for sunburn, premature aging, skin damage, and skin cancer - all the issues that come along with too much sun exposure. An expired sunscreen becomes less effective at warding off UVA and UVB rays. 1) Expired Sunscreen May Not Be EffectiveĬhecking on sunscreen expiration is pretty important because a no-good sunscreen will leave you susceptible to sun-related risks. If your only options are using an expired sunscreen or no sunscreen at all, using the expired sunscreen is the better choice.Īlways try to keep your sunscreen up to date because there are a few reasons why using expired sunscreen is a bad idea. What’s The Risk Of Using Expired Sunscreen? Is it really that bad to use an expired sunscreen when you’re in a pinch? Now that you know how to understand sunscreen expiration dates and even decide for yourself if it’s time to replace your old sunscreen, you’re probably wondering what the big deal is. Change in smell: Expired chemical sunscreens often have an unusual scent.Change in color : Expired chemical sunscreens may have a yellow tint.Chemical sunscreens can change in texture as well. Change in texture: When mineral sunscreens have been around too long, they tend to separate (you’ll notice a runny liquid) or become grainy.Other than checking the expiration date, how can you do a quick check to tell if your sunscreen is still good or not? There are a few key indications that will tell you if your sunscreen has expired, such as: Follow the directions and information in the Drug fact box on the product for detailed information. Sunscreens must be stored at room temperature and not exposed to extreme temperatures. Mineral sunscreens with active ingredients of either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide degrade over time. chemical sunscreen, check out our explanation here).Īs time goes by, chemical sunscreens with active ingredients like oxybenzone go through a process called oxidation (a chemical reaction that changes a substance). (If you aren’t familiar with the differences between mineral vs. How To Tell If Your Sunscreen Has Expiredīoth chemical and mineral sunblocks expire. There are a few simple ways to tell if your sunscreen has expired. Consult the Drug fact box for potential reactions to exposure to heat. So, if your sunscreen is in and out of the sun (what sunscreen isn’t?) or stored in the garage, it may go bad sooner than the expiration date. Other than time, what makes a sunscreen expire? Exposure to heat and sun. If your sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date on the bottle, you can assume it’s expiration date is three years from the time you bought it (this is where actually remembering when you bought the sunscreen comes into play!). Food and Drug Administration) requires that all sunscreens list an expiration date on the bottle unless that sunscreen has a shelf life of at least three years. So now that you know that sunscreen can expire, you’re probably thinking, “how long is sunscreen good for?” What’s The Risk of Using Expired Sunscreen?.How To Tell If Your Sunscreen Has Expired.In this article, we’ll answer important questions like “when does sunblock expire?” and “what’s the risk of using expired sunscreen?”, so that you can keep your family safe and comfortable this summer during every adventure! Let’s get straight to the big question. Once a sunscreen has expired, it should be thrown away as it no longer will provide adequate sun protection. Īccording to FDA guidelines, all sunscreens should have an expiration date unless stability testing conducted by the manufacturer has shown that the product will remain stable for at least three years. Using expired sunscreen won’t effectively protect your skin from the sun and can expose you to microorganisms, so it’s imperative to check the expiration date on your sunscreen bottle before lathering yourself up in SPF. Like all skin care products, sunscreen can expire as well.
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