Anyone know the answer?

[Will Wheatley]

I have heard that Sunblock will loose its effectiveness over time. I do not see any expiration dates on any of my numerous old sunblocks and just assumed I would use them till they are empty. Some of them are a few years old.

So does sunblock expire and if so how long is it good for.

Thanks for your help.

[drb9]

I've used old sunscreens too, without seeming to burn. But, I've also read that the ingredients do break down and the oil separates from the other ingredients. FWIW, EPA says to use by the expiration date, or three years if there is no date on the container: http://www.epa.gov/SUNWISE/doc/sunscreen.pdf

[mahalocd36]

Hi Will,

The newer/better sunblocks now come with expiration dates.

On the ones that don't I try to use up within a year or two, and basically I burn so easily that I can tell if it's not working pretty quickly and throw it away. The ingredients do break down...

-Melissa

[D Rush]

Being a family of fair skinned people of Irish descent, a good summer day is when none of us get sunburned.
We always throw away old sunblock.
Our family experience is that sunblock does get less effective after a year of temperature cycling in our beach bags, autos and boats.

[BillNH]

Rule of thumb in mountaineering circles is one season then chuck it... I've always carried the practice over onto the water as well. It's cheap compared to skin cancer.

[seadog6532]

Looking at the crimp on the end of a new tube of Banana Boat sun block it has a stamped exp date. Anna had a reaction after using old sun block "1 year old" and was told by her Doctor not to use old sun block as it breaks down loosing it's effectiveness. We now always chuck the old stuff and have had no more trouble so far.

Mark and Anna of Arianna CD30K #112