14-07-2025
This little-known sun cream symbol 'protects against ageing and cancer'
Holidaymakers are being urged to look closely at their sun cream bottles this summer.
Scotland and the rest of the UK melted over the weekend in a summer heatwave, with parts of the country reaching 32C. This marks the hottest since 2023.
Following the blistering heat, people are being urged to look closely at their sun cream bottles to ensure they are fully protected. While the sun may be gone for now, it's important be know how the ultraviolet (UV) rays can be very harmful to your skin.
Sun worshippers should make sure they apply plenty of sun cream before to limit any risks they may face. When choosing a bottle of sun screen, the majority of people check the SPF rating, but according to experts, we should also be looking the cream's PA factor, as a cream without it cannot offer full sun shielding.
SPF protects against the sun's UV levels, however a cream only containing this offers protection against UVB ray - which change the skin's colour - but we still need protecting from UVA light radiation - which causes premature skin ageing and impacts skin cancer.
The letters will usually be accompanied by one or more plus sign symbols (+), which mark its variations.
Explaining what exactly the PA factor means, Cigdem Kemal Yilmaz, a chemical engineer and founder of Skin Masterclass, said: "When you see a sunscreen which says "PA ++++" (variations come in +'s), the PA stands for Protection Grade of UVA, meaning it measures the products ability to block UVA rays, whereas an SPF measures UVB protection."
She continued: "UVA rays are the type of radiation which may lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer, and UVB rays are responsible for the change in skin's colour, so your tan or sunburn is a result of UVB.
"If you see a sunscreen which has both the SPF and PA measurement, you can determine it as being broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays."
Despite unpredictable weather, approximately 12,000 people are diagnosed every year with non-melanoma skin cancer in Scotland, according to the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer.
With this in mind, here's what to know about finding the proper rating on your suncream.
How to find your sun cream's PA factor
The term PA derives from a Japanese method called PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening), formed to determine how long it takes for skin to tan and how much UVA exposure an individual can handle. Ultimately, the more pluses labelled, the higher the protection against UVA exposure.
For example, if the sunscreen has a PA++++, the current highest rating of UVA protection, it means it protects up to 16 times more against UVA than you would have without the product.
Not all sunscreen brands use the PA rating system, and may just say "broad spectrum SPF" and due to guidance, it has to be proportional, so the higher the SPF rating, the higher the PA rating.
A general guide that can be followed includes:
PA + = 2 to 4 PPD
PA++ = 4 to 8 PPD
PA+++ = 8 to 16 PPD
PA++++ = 16+ PPD
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With no shortage of sun creams available to purchase, it can be tough to know which is best for you. But Misss Yilmaz stresses that we should add an extra layer of SPF alongside our cream of choice.
She said: "There are many different forms of sunscreens from gels, sprays, creams and mineral powders, but it's important to always apply a separate SPF with a minimum of 30, and to look for ones with broad-spectrum or PA rating on to offer the best protection for your skin."
In addition, Scots who get last year's sun cream out of the cupboard should check that it's in date. As well as being less effective, expired sun cream can cause skin irritation.
