SOLTAN
Over 80 years of sun protection
In 1939, Soltan launched its first sun cream and has been PIONEERING developments in sun protection ever since.
Soltan leads the way in UVA protection, introducing the UK’s first UVA star rating system, which has become widely used across the industry. We were the first brand to include 5 star UVA in all our products and continue this today, offering it across every product in our range, so whatever format suits you, you can guarantee uncompromised 5-star UVA protection across the entire Soltan range.
In 2021 two of our products won Which? Best Buys. Our Soltan Kids Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF50+ 200ml – Soltan was deemed a ‘top pick for kids’ – “It’s the easiest of the SPF 50+ products to apply that passed both of our sun protection tests, with our expert panel also awarding good marks for lack of tackiness and smell.” Which? June 2021.
Exposure to UV rays without sun protection can lead to sunburn, prickly heat, premature ageing, dark spots and in some cases it can lead to skin cancer. Most skin cancers are caused by skin damage that happens from exposure to the sun. The damage can happen from sun exposure over a long period of time or from a history of getting sunburnt.
People with a history of sunburn or overexposure to the sun in childhood also have a greater risk of developing both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Because people are living longer, they are exposed to more sun over their lives, so it’s really important that we protect ourselves and our families from the sun’s harmful rays.
Whatever your skin type it still needs protection. Everyone is at risk from sunburn, sun damage and skin cancer if you are exposed to the sun without adequate protection.
Melanin is a dark brown to black pigment that occurs in the hair, skin, and irises. Melanin is what causes the skin to tan when it’s exposed to sunlight and people with darker skin tones produce more of it. While it does offer some sun protection, it isn’t enough to protect against the UVA and UVB rays that cause cancer and age skin.
Soltan developed the rating system in 1992, and it was Europe’s first measurement system for UVA protection. The rating indicates the
percentage of UVA radiation that’s absorbed by that particular sun protection, compared to UVB. The higher the star rating, the better the protection against UVA rays.
Research we carried out found that over half of parents choose a sun cream based only on its SPF rating, without realising the significance of the star rating system that indicates protection against long-term, permanent skin damage caused by UVA.
SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and indicates the level of protection a sun cream provides against burning rays. More specifically, it refers to how well the product reduces the burning effect of the sun on your skin. For instance, if you usually begin to burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF30 sunscreen will protect you up to 30 times longer than that. Products need to be applied every two hours and after being in water to help maintain protection, and if you’re intending to spend longer in the sun then you should choose a higher SPF to begin with. Soltan & Macmillan recommend 5-star UVA with at least an SPF30. We also recommend SPF50 for kids, and to seek shade and cover up with clothing to reduce the impact of direct sunlight, particularly between 11am and 3pm.
UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, which is a deeper living layer of skin. UVA rays are present at all times during daylight hours, and while you might not immediately see their effects, they’re very powerful – they can penetrate clouds and even glass. They penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB to cause long-term damage (including all types of skin cancer) and play a major part in the ageing process, such as causing wrinkles, sun spots and leathery-looking skin.
UVB rays are absorbed mainly in the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) and upper layers of the dermis (the deeper layers of the skin). These are the rays that are mostly responsible for sunburn and skin reddening. They don’t penetrate as deeply as UVA rays, but they’re just as damaging. They play a large part in the development of skin cancers including melanoma and also contribute to skin ageing.
Water-resistant sunscreens retain at least 50% of their SPF protection after 40 minutes in water. So, if you’ve taken a dip in the pool, the
sunscreen will not wash away entirely, but you will lose some level of protection. To ensure that you stay protected, top up your sun lotion after towel drying and contact with water, sweat and sand.
SOLTAN
*The star rating is a measure of the absorbance of UVA relative to UVB. Other brands not displaying a star rating symbol may still offer high levels of UVA protection. Data to support can be found at www.boots.com/soltan-uva-protection
