Boots announces major change to one of its best known brands 

BOOTS have announced a major change to one of its best known brands, Soltan.

The sun cream brand has taken steps to help prevent skin cancer. 

Soltan, sold in high-street Boots’ stores, will stop making products with an SPF of lower than 50 for children.

Bottles lower than SPF 15 for adults will also be cut as part of a partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.

The move hopes to improve awareness of sun safety and encourage Brits to protect themselves from skin cancer as much as possible. 

SPF (sun protection factor) refers to the amount of UVB protection a product provides from the damaging effects of the sun.

The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from UVB rays and sunburn and the lower the risk of developing skin cancer.

Skin cancer is increasing in the UK, but almost nine in ten cases are preventable. 

Since the early 1990s, the incidence of melanoma skin cancer – the most deadly form – has doubled in the UK.

And over the last decade alone, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around a third.

Cancer Research UK has previously blamed the rise of popular holidays abroad.

However, the sun’s rays are strong enough in the UK to get skin cancer, even if you don’t sunbathe.

Soltan spokeswoman Clare O’Connor said: “Through our partnership with Macmillan, we’re committed to taking action to improve sun safety.

“We know that using sunscreen is one of the main methods of keeping skin protected in the sun, so we want to support our customers to make a simple switch to protect their skin with higher SPF with UVA protection.

“This is particularly important for children, whose skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so we want to help parents in choosing the highest protection available.”

Dr Anthony Cunliffe, national clinical adviser for primary care at Macmillan, said: “Initiatives like this are really important because wearing higher factor SPF, along with steps like spending time in the shade, can provide better protection from the sun and lower your risk of developing skin cancer.

“Anyone with concerns about changes to their skin should contact their GP, and they can also chat to specially trained nurses on the Macmillan support line.”