I was given a bunch of sunscreen a few weeks ago. I noticed that some of it is expired (some by over a year). Is it safe to use still? Has anyone used expired sunscreen and been okay? We are going camping this weekend and I want to make sure we have enough so no one gets burned.
Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on the mamas here. I will be tossing the old stuff and heading to the store once more before we go camping. I don't want to risk anyone getting burt or having future skin cancer due to being cheap.
What Jennifer said. It loses its effectiveness over time (like medicine). It is likely safe, but you'd have to reapply it more often.
It's not going to hurt you, but it probably won't be as effective as a new bottle. That doesn't mean it won't protect you. But if it's spf 30, the company won't guarentee that it will be as effective as a brand new bottle of spf 30.
If you decide to bring them, just make sure you reapply a little more often than normal.
My thinking is that if it was as good today as a year ago, then it wouldn't have an expiration date. I wouldn't use it for camping, maybe at home around the pool. Not sure where you are camping but if you take it and get burned on the first day, I would make sure you could get more or take a new one just in case. Good luck!
I use the expired sunscreen on myself and buy new for the kids. It still works.
My head screamed noooooooo don't use it. I did some years back on my son who is basically red haired and freckled and he was burnt to a crisp. I felt like a terrible mother. It's worth buying some more if you need it. Never thought I'd have to say that. It is really expensive but I found some cheaper at dollar stores.
Not really sure. I have used expired sunscreen and I didn't burn but then again I have used no sunscreen and I didn't burn. Guess I am saying I am not sure why I didn't burn but I didn't burn so I assume it still worked. Sunscreens don't have a long shelf life I think. I bought some earlier this year and it expires next week. :(
All of ours goes out of date before we use it. We still use it and nothing happens differently.
I use it on myself but not on my son. It is number 50 so even if it loses effectiveness I am still covered. If it's more than a year, consider tossing it or reapply often. Use the fresh non-toxic one with your kids.
If it's expired, throw it away. It's not going to be effective at all. They have expiration dates on them for a reason because they DO lose effectiveness.
It's not just about preventing burning... it's about preventing CANCER.
I've only burned once in my entire life (jazz festival in 98* heat plus bright sun wearing just shorts and a tank top for 8 hours straight) but I used to tan all the time as a teenager and in my early twenties. All of that time tanning puts me at a higher risk for cancer, especially considering that skin cancer runs on my paternal grandfather's side of the family including with him. I religiously apply sunscreen on myself and my children now even though I don't burn.
I wouldn't use. My neice got a bad sunburn once using expired sunscreen. I've also read the higher SPF sunscreen degrades faster.
We used expired sunscreen the other day and my fiance burned to a crisp. Granted it was reallllllly old (2007) oops! I would toss it and buy new.
