Anything I can do? Sue Spar?

[shifty_uk]

As has been said, you wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Not least because how do you prove you even applied any at all?

And as far as I'm aware it takes longer than a few weeks for such moles to appear (we're talking months or even years), so if they are cancerous then your holiday incident is probably just a coincidence.

We haven't had sun here and I've been working constantly so barely a chance to step outside. The doctor seemed somewhat concerned enough, though and didn't think the timeframe was an issue(which I brought up).

As I said, I was just curious. Even if this thread is just a reminded - Keep layering a high factor of a good brand on!!!!

I always use the highest after being burnt very similar to Shift on (surprise surprise) factor 15. I usually use 30+, sometimes as higher than 40+.

Yeah, straight to 30+ after I've been burnt even slightly.

 

[Greebo]

Also note that sun factor is not the only key thing.

UVA and UVB rays. 'Many people don't realise this but the SPF factor on the bottle only relates to UVB rays,' says Dr Birch-Machin.
UVB rays are traditionally thought of as the sun's rays that cause sunburn while UVA rays cause signs of ageing. But new research by Dr Birch-Machin's team at Newcastle University shows that UVA rays can be responsible for both sunburn and ageing.
'You need to be protected from both UVB and UVA rays and some of the cheaper creams still don't do this,' he says. A sun cream's UVA rating is shown on the back of sun cream bottles and is measured in stars, one star being the lowest level of protection and four stars being the highest. 'As well as choosing a high SPF rating I would always advise people to choose a four star UVA rating,' says Dr Birch-Machin

In fact it's better/safer for you to have SF15 with 4 stars than a SF30 with 3 stars.

I suspect that the cheap rubbish sun cream had maybe one star for UVA?

 

[ins0mn1ac]

Sounds pretty horrific and I bet it ruined your holidays somewhat! Good luck with the hospital tests!

 

[shifty_uk]

Also note that sun factor is not the only key thing.



In fact it's better/safer for you to have SF15 with 4 stars than a SF30 with 3 stars.

I suspect that the cheap rubbish sun cream had maybe one star for UVA?

It had 4 stars but the translation on the back was absolutely abysmal!

 

[krisboats]

This tbh. Isn't it a case of it would only give a normal person 150 minutes of protection? I am sure you would be out in the sun longer than 2 and half hours?

I pretty much run factor 50 nowadays and still stay out of the mid day sun.

Factor 50 sunscreen actually in most cases does more harm than good. The added ingrediants in a lot of creams actually cause damage when exposed to UVA rays (something a lot of creams don't block at all and causes just as much damage as direct exposure without skin, only in a non visible way) as the UVA reacts with the cream and becoming harmful. This is intensified by the public majority thinking of "higher SPF= longer in the sun". The other common misconcepption is that high factor sunscream can be applied lightly as it's "more protective". This is very much not the case and in every study people applying high SPF cream used too little to be effective, most were applying enough to match a decent application of SPF 10-15 in terms of protection.

SPF 30 is the most that is recommended by the FDA and that if in highly strong sun apply it regularly and in double the quantity that you think you need.

It was shown that in most cases opting for a SPF 20 with a lighter consistency and greater ease of absorbtion into the skin was far more effective than the typical persons use of SPF 30+.


Lets put it this way, i'm blonde with pasty white skin and loads of moles/freckles. I worked in Dubai for 11 days at temps of 46 degrees and only used factor 20. Didn't get burnt at all.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

Factor 15 is far too weak for Fuerteventura - doesn't peak sunlight times average around 28 degrees in May. It also of course isn't all down to temperature but how close you are to the equator - and you were pretty close.

It isn't a case of:

useless sun cream? No thanks.

It is a case of you picking the wrong one.

This information is readily available online or in NHS leaflets...

 

[hola_adios]

Anything below factor 30 and not being able to block UVA and UVB is deemed as inefficient. Since there is no legislation at the moment it will be difficult, just for your information, these are the new guidelines from the FDA:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesF...andingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm258468.htm

 

[Van Hellseek]

We haven't had sun here

There's a lot more to skin cancer than sun. Many things can contribute to it. smoking, long-term dehydration, contact with other chemicals(/lotions).

Not saying there isn't cause for concern, but if your holiday was only a few weeks ago it's unlikely to be the cause. I mean this isn't like getting a virus where you're in contact with it and then a few weeks later you have symptoms. With skin cancer you could have had unseen problems for years before visible signs emerge.

But yeah, always better to be safe than sorry. Hope it's good news for you.

 

[Jono8]

Well, it is a good reminder to everyone about the dangers of sun exposure, but OP hasnt got a leg to stand on. I very much doubt buying sun cream gives you any kind of legal gaurantee that you wont get burnt!

 

[Sin_Chase]

Factor 15? Might as well of had a chocolate fire guard to screen behind.

2 things:

1 - You used inadequate protection for the conditions
2 - You did not realise you were burning and stayed in the sun

Nobody to blame but yourself really.

 

[Dugganator]

Not sure how true this is but I was told that if you dont want to tan or risk burning you have to apply the sun cream every 15minutes if its a factor 15. Basically what ever the number is how many minutes protection you have.

I burn easy but normally applying factor 50 twice a day will protect me so I guess thats bit OTT. Not sure on the offical advice.

 

[Strife212]

Maybe you had an actual reaction to the cream?

 

[shifty_uk]

Thanks for the information, chaps It might be nothing or unrelated as you said, Hellseek, could just be a little scare but it is indeed a reminder for people to choose the right sun cream!

I'm quick enough to complain to companies but wasn't sure whether or not to do anything under these circumstances. Doctor just freaked me out a bit when she got on the phone right away and said right, you need to head up tomorrow morning Melanoma can be a case of removing said moles or it can be quite severe as far as I'm aware so just be careful, readers!

 

[Nitefly]

Unless you have suffered serious long lasting harm and are prepared to pay serious legal costs, it isn't worth litigating by a long shot. Even if their product is faulty, there is going to be a massive contributory negligence argument here.

However, there is no harm in writing a letter of complaint.

 

[Hilly]

Anything below factor 30 and not being able to block UVA and UVB is deemed as inefficient. Since there is no legislation at the moment it will be difficult, just for your information, these are the new guidelines from the FDA:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesF...andingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm258468.htm

FDA are full of crap.

There are no natural sun lotions for starters due to the chemicals which they put into them (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide usually).

You can boost your own protection system by eating healthily (antioxidant-rich foods especially with the suppleement astaxanthin.

 

[Greebo]

).

You can boost your own protection system by eating healthily (antioxidant-rich foods especially with the suppleement astaxanthin.

Lots and lots of tomatoes apparantly.

 

[dekez]

To be fair op I think a lot of people in this thread are being a bit harsh.

I regularly use factor 20-15, and if you know that a factor is fine for you and have worked your way down to that factor safely then I don't see a problem with that.

The only mistake you made IMO was to trust a dodgey spar brand cream.

 

[stockhausen]

Fuerteventura

June​

Factor 15​

You are having a laugh, aren't you?

 

[Glaucus]

You are having a laugh, aren't you?

This, what an odd thread.
Factor 15, how did you apply it, common sense you can feel when your burning and skin colour. Thread is odd, at least you've posted you don't intend to do anything.

Good luck at the docs though, I'm sure it will be fine and they will just remove the moles as a precaution.

 

[hola_adios]

FDA are full of crap.

There are no natural sun lotions for starters due to the chemicals which they put into them (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide usually).

You can boost your own protection system by eating healthily (antioxidant-rich foods especially with the suppleement astaxanthin.

So zinc oxide is not a natural product? And everything is a chemical, including H2O. Such broad labels are inadequate.

The value of antioxidant products is much less than what is claimed. Not many things can protect you from the effects of UV rays on your DNA, unless you do know how to create a retrovirus to fix such damage.