People only just realising what symbol on back of sun cream bottle means

With summer upon us, many across the nation are eagerly packing their sun cream in anticipation of their next overseas holiday or perhaps just a sneaky sunbathe in the garden. However, what many fail to realise is that there's a symbol printed on the back of every sun cream bottle.

Ignoring this could be the difference between achieving a lovely tan and suffering from severe sunburn - which has been linked to various conditions such as skin cancer. Each bottle of sun cream, suntan lotion or sunblock carries a symbol on its reverse side, reports The Express.

This symbol typically resembles a slightly open tin, accompanied by two letters and a number indicating the product's expected shelf life and its safety duration. For instance, a sun cream bottle marked '12M' at the back implies it's guaranteed to last for 12 months before it expires and becomes less effective.

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Some creams may indicate 6M, meaning they're safe for six months, but 12M, signifying 12 months, is most common. If you use sun cream older than the duration indicated on the symbol, say because you've retrieved a leftover bottle from the previous summer, you need to ensure it's still within its expiry date or it might not protect your skin.

Using expired sun cream could result in sunburn and increase your risk of skin cancer as it won't effectively block harmful UV rays.

To avoid being caught out by an expired bottle, it's recommended to mark the purchase date on the front of your sun cream bottle with a permanent marker. This will help you keep track of its validity.

The same 12M symbol is also found on a range of cosmetic products including lipsticks, shampoos, conditioners and moisturisers. Therefore, it's always wise to check the labels of any old bathroom products that may be accumulating.

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