As early summer weather continues recently, the number of people seeking sunscreen is increasing, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has urged the use of sunscreen products labeled as ‘functional cosmetics.’ Using the correct sunscreen can help prevent summer pigmentation, skin aging, and more.
When purchasing sunscreen, you should check the Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which indicates protection against ultraviolet B rays, and the Protection Grade of UVA (PA), which indicates protection against ultraviolet A rays, and choose a product suitable for your purpose. The SPF number is displayed up to 50, and anything above 50 is shown as 50+. The higher the number, the better the protection against UVB rays. The PA rating is shown as PA+, PA++, PA+++, or PA++++, with more plus signs indicating higher UVA protection.
Although higher SPF values or PA ratings mean better UV protection, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety advises selecting an appropriate product based on expected UV exposure time, intensity, and type of activity, as sensitive skin may react adversely.
Sunscreen should be applied evenly in sufficient amounts to the skin 15 minutes before going outdoors, and reapplied frequently when sweating heavily or exposed to sunlight for extended periods to ensure effectiveness.
When playing in water at beaches or swimming pools during summer, sunscreen can easily wash off, so ‘water-resistant’ or ‘very water-resistant’ products developed for this purpose should be used. Additionally, it is important to wash the skin thoroughly after returning home to remove any remaining sunscreen. If allergic reactions or skin irritation occur while using sunscreen, stop use immediately and consult a specialist.
A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official stated, “You can check whether a sunscreen product has been reviewed and reported by the Ministry through the Drug Safety Korea website,” and emphasized, “You should use products recognized by the Ministry for their UV protection effectiveness.”
Meanwhile, from December 2021 to December last year, the Ministry conducted labeling, advertising, and quality monitoring of products distributed in the market and detected two products violating labeling regulations. These companies labeled their products as 50+ despite the actual SPF being below 50. The Ministry plans to continue monitoring false and exaggerated advertising of popular summer products this year as well.
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