Our bathroom drawers or cabinets often contain many treasures. Among them, sunscreen naturally finds its place. An error, according to a British doctor, director of an aesthetic practice, who considers this storage location inappropriate.
Can the storage location influence the effectiveness of sunscreens?
For Dr Ed Robinson, hot steam generated by showers and baths could alter the active ingredients in sunscreens. “This means that the product may no longer effectively protect against skin damage“, he warns in the Daily Mail.
According to him, this would potentially expose millions of people to increased risks of sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and even skin cancer. He therefore recommends storing sunscreens in a cool, dry place, away from direct light and extreme temperatures.
Protecting your sunscreen from the heat: advice to put into perspective
An opinion tempered by Dr Isabelle Gallay, French dermatologist.
“For me, there’s no real problem with keeping your sunscreen in the bathroom. These are still products designed to resist heat, and to be taken outside! Unless it’s 40°C where you live, then I understand. Otherwise, I don’t see any danger“, she reassures.
On the other hand, it is better to avoid leaving your tube in direct sunlight or on the back shelf of a car. “Just keep it in the shade, in a bag. Some pouches are also designed for this. Or why not directly in a cooler if you are going on a picnic,” advises the dermatologist.
The real danger: using expired sunscreen
In a previous interview, Isabelle Gallay recalled that the quality of the product and its expiration date are essential criteria. An indication of 6 or 12 months after opening generally appears on the packaging.
She strongly advises against using cream from last season: “An already opened tube or spray has been exposed to oxygen, light and heat, which degrades the protective molecules. So this is not a good idea. At best, the cream will have lost its effectiveness; at worst, it can even become toxic“, she explained.
As a precaution, it is therefore better to buy a new sunscreen, especially if the one from the year seems to have changed in appearance or smell after a few uses.