If you use sunscreen products, be warned that the sun protection claims made by some of these products may be misleading.
According to Dr. Pimolphan Pityanukul, a pharmacist at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmacy, who conducted a four-year research study of sunscreens, no sunscreen is able to block the sun's rays 100 percent. Japanese cosmetics label Hanako, though, has recently launched a product which it claims blocks 100 percent of the sun's rays.
These claims, said the doctor, are misleading. Many Thai women misunderstand the purpose of sunscreens, she added. These products originated as a way to protect fair Caucasian skin from being burned by the sun's harmful rays, which can cause soreness and skin cancer. Due to its higher levels of the skin pigment melanin, Asian skin is not as susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. But Asian women commonly use sunscreen products for the cosmetic purpose of keeping their skin white.
According to Dr Pimolphan, foundation and face powder are an equally effective block to the sun's rays for women who do not want their skin to be darkened by the sun.
What can the sun's cause you?
Darken your skin
Soreness
Skin cancer
All of the above