Q and A with Boots Suncare Adviser, Mike Brown

[RachelMumsnet]

Do you know your UVA from your UVB? Unsure about what SPF and product is best to protect your kids from the sun during the warmer months?

Boots Suncare Scientific Adviser, Mike Brown, is joining mumsnet to answer your questions as we approach the summer months. Mike has more than 24 years experience in sun care product development; including SPF testing and product formulation and is also the expert behind Boots Soltan?s ?5 star rating? system.

Send your questions to Mike here before Sunday 29th May and we'll be posting his answers shortly after.

There is a really expensive suncream available which states it only needs applying once a day. It is far too expensive unless it really will work. My sons tend to not like certain creams on their skin so it is an annual nightmare to protect them from the sun.

have also heard it is higher in all those nasties people are worried about, ie zinc etc. is this correct Mr Brown?

It's this one, Fab.

Was recommended on here once years ago.

It's the only thing DD1 can use that doesn't cause a reaction AND protects her milk-bottle white skin.

Takes ages to rub in, but it stays put.

Sunshine - we have found Malibu doesn't do it to DS - having spent at least £80 last summer finding that out.

expatinscotland - btw are you the expat?

That isn't the one I meant but is that a once a day application and protects fully one? It is worth the money if it definately does the job.

We use Piz Buin Once and it def DOESN'T last all day, especially if there is swimming involved. I can't speak for the others.

Blimey

Am I the expat? I don't know. This is the only name I've had in the six years I've been here.

The once a day Ultrasun really lasts all day with DD1. She's not a particularly sweaty person, though, and I have not used it when she's in water, as the only time she's ever been in water is an indoor pool.

But we put it on in the morning and she hasn't burned once.

She's very pale, with green eyes and light brown hair with gold and ginger streaks.

DD1 is quite olive, but with light hair like her sister, and I put it on her, too. And no burns or tans.

Ditto DS, who is much like DD1 in colouring.

It does take some time to rub in.

If we apply sunscreen to our dc, say, in the morning, how long should we wait before dressing them so that it will not rub off? And will waiting long enough reduce staining on clothes?

I have a question. I am mixed race and tan very very very easily - just an hour out and about in the sun, even with factor 50 sunblock on, will still leave me with ridiculous tan lines from clothing/shoes etc! What sort of product should I buy to best try and prevent this? Also, what product would be best for my face without leaving it looking like I'm wearing white paint on my face?

How much sunblock should I use for me and for my toddlers. I normally go for a golfball for me but that much basically turns the kids into soupy messes.

Also, can you apply it to wet skin - I often do but perhaps it sloughs off. In this case, can you apply it when you are hot etc.

My 8y DD reacts to many suncreams. She seems fine with P20 and Ultrasun. I do prefer the once a day creams for me and DD. Soltan, Nivea, etc bring DD out in itchy rashes.

But I am little concerned about the P20 UVA/UVB protection...can you advise?

Mine's a different kind of question...How can I get sun screen stains out of Dd's clothes please? I've tried everything.

What do you think of P20 and P10 - the once a day stuff?

My daughter has senstive skin and gets a rash (sort raised bumps/mini blisters) with Nivia, Soltan, and Neutrogena. Are there any brands you would recommend for children with particularly sensitive skin?

expatinscotland - have you recently moved?

I soent ages trying to locate some more E45 sunblock earlier this year only to discover it has been discontinued. It was the only one whihc kept my very fair and eczema prone dd1 protected with no nasty reaction. I have recently bought some proderm which has good reviews. Which cream is the best for eczema prone children please?

any particular reason why you ask, fab?

'spent', sorry

Just trying to work out if you are who I think you are. Do you remember me starting a thread saying I wanted to be like you as you knew your own worth and you said we all should. Maybe I am getting as people have called you expat and so I haven't always noticed the inscotland bit.

I think Boots stopped selling P20 because it doesn't block both types of rays. You could be 'unburned' but still at risk.

Bit of a blow to our family. We never burned with P20 but didn't realise about the other type of skin damage we weren't protected from.

I would like to know the answer to the factor 50 question that Rubyslippers asked, as I have read that anything over SPF 25 offers sufficient protection for most people.

I would be interested in your views to the discussion on MN recently about using sun cream daily. Many of my friends, particularly the Brits, slather their DC in sun cream in case they are outside in the sun during break. Now, we live in Geneva so the sun is strong here, but they are outside for maybe 10 - 15 mins and mostly in the shade. I do not put cream on the DC unless we are going to be outside for a longer period of time as they would have to be covered in cream the whole summer if I did so.

Oh, and if my face cream has a SPF of 15 and I also use tinted moisturiser/foundation with SPF 7 does that add up to SPF 22?

In the same way, if I put sun cream on top of moisturiser does the SPF of both creams add up to a higher protection?

It doesn't add up Mme - if you put a sufficient amount on, you'd have protection at 15 spf in your example.

I'm fascinated as to how you became a suncare specialist - whats your background ? Did you come from the non ionising radiation field ?