According to CANSA, sunburn can occur within 15 minutes and the damage caused is permanent, irreversible and adds up with each exposure to the sun. The organisation reports that skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and South Africa has one of the highest monitored ultraviolet (UV) levels in the world, resulting in one of the highest skin cancer rates globally.
CANSA explains to the public that wearing sunscreen does not give you a license to ‘bare all’ in the sun. It urges members of the public to avoid direct sunlight between 10:00 and 16:00 when the sun’s rays are most dangerous.
The organisation goes on to inform that UV rays can reflect off cement, water, sand, glass and grass and can therefore cause sunburn even when you are the shade. There are other means of protection such as UV protective clothing, UV protective swimwear and umbrellas all bearing the CANSA Seal of Recognition. Be sure to look out for the CANSA swing tags and Smart Choice logo on clothing, hats and summer fun accessories.
According to CANSA, all sunscreens which bear the CANSA Seal of Recognition have broad spectrum protection abilities, meaning they protect against UVA and UVB rays. It goes on to remind users to always apply sunscreen, with a sun protection factor (SPF) between 20 and 50, depending on your own skin type.
Here is a list from CANSA approved sunscreens:
• AMKA Products (Pty) Ltd – products: Everysun & Tropitone
• Avid Brands S.A. (Pty) Ltd – products: Lipsano
• Beiersdorf Consumer Products (Pty) Ltd – products: Nivea **
• Bio Earth Labs (Pty) Ltd – products: Bio Earth | Eezysun | Sunprotect – Clicks
• Burnshield (Pty) Ltd – products: Solace
• Creighton Products (Pty) Ltd – products: Equate – Massmart | Island Tribe – Adcock Ingram | Renew Sun – Shoprite / Checkers | Sun Doctor – Mr Price | Sunprotect – Clicks | Sun Shield – Jonsson Workwear | Sun Sure – PnP
• DRA Pharmaceuticals – products: Skin Scripts
• IQ Laboratories – Canway (Pty) Ltd – products: IQ Sun Care – Clicks & Dischem
• JDG Contract Filling (Pty) Ltd – products: CF Suncare
• Kool-a-Chem (Pty) Ltd – products: Kool-a-Sun
• LS Enterprises – products: Theravine (Sun Defence)
• Mint Edge (Pty) Ltd – products: Solis Care Sunscreens
• Nunuki for little humans (Pty) Ltd – products: Skincare for little humans
• Oh Lief – products: Oh Lief Natural Sunscreen
• Proderm Pharmaceutical Products – Rayblock sunscreen
• Reitzer Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd – products: Pure Sun
• Root4 (Pty) Ltd – product: Solis Care Sunscreen
• Shield Chemicals (Pty) Ltd – products: Sola – Spar | SunLab – Dischem | Sunprotect – Clicks
• Technikon Laboratories (Pty) Ltd – products: Techniblock Sunscreen
• Nivea sunscreen is approved by CANSA, however, the SunSmart Seal will not appear on their sunscreen as their product containers/packaging are printed in Basel, Germany
