Sun screen: The burning issue of UVB and UVA

Summer is finally here and everyone will be looking to hit the beaches both here and abroad to top up their tan. But latest research from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows that although two sun screen products were launched in Europe every day of 2007 (that’s well over 750 new products introduced during the year), fewer than half highlight combined UVB and UVA protection.Most sun screens have provided UVB protection for years as UVB rays are the ones that cause the skin to burn. However, UVA protection is equally as important as UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, causing it to age prematurely and in extreme cases cause skin cell mutation.