DURING the summer months it’s key to use sun cream to protect yourself from skin cancer.
But despite most people knowing this, many still end up with pink skin after spending too long outdoors.
Research shows that around 83 per cent of Brits could be at risk of sunburn this summer due to their bad sunscreen habits.
This is extremely dangerous as doctors have previously warned that even just being sunburned once could result in deadly skin cancer.
Experts say that failing to protect yourself can have a lasting impact.
When it comes to taking care of your skin, Kimberley Hulme, head of clinic at Face the Future said many Brits are making dangerous mistakes.
She warned that just as with other products, your SPF should be replaced on a regular basis.
“SPF becomes less effective over time meaning that it won’t be able to provide your skin with the same level of protection – resulting in a significantly increased risk of sun damage.
“While it might seem like a good idea to keep a bottle of sunscreen in the cupboard for a rare sunny day in the UK, you really do need to be aware of how long the product has been open and when it is set to expire.
“If you aren’t using SPF protection every day, you might not notice subtle changes that might suggest that a product has expired.
“As a general rule, once opened you should only be using your SPF for a maximum of three months before replacing it.”
The guru explained that there are four key signs to spot if your SPF has expired.
The first she says, is a change in consistency.
“SPF that has expired will have a much more watery consistency so if you notice your sunscreen seems more runny than usual, it’s time to replace,” she said.
The second is a change in appearance, and Kimberly explained that most creams will be white when you first buy them.
But if they are out of date, they may have changed to a yellowish colour.
“You can assume that it is no longer effectively protecting your skin from the sun and should get a new one,” she said.
Kimberly highlighted that if the smell of the product has altered then you should also head out to buy fresh lotions.
