The Health Products Regulatory Authority has warned consumers to check the safe usage date on their sun creams, following the recent spell of good weather.
The usage period after opening is shown by an open jar symbol on sun cream packaging.
The HPRA has said that while no cream gives 100 per cent protection from sun exposure, out of date, spoiled or insufficient sun cream can significantly lower its effectiveness.
HPRA advice
The HPRA has advised that the average adult use a minimum of six full teaspoons of sun cream when going out into the sun, while children should use between two and four teaspoons of cream.
The authority said that those applying sun cream should wait 20 minutes before heading outside, and should reapply the cream every two hours.
The HPRA also advised people to check both the level of UVA and UVB (SPF) protection stated on packaging, as both rays can cause skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in Ireland.