Sunblock Expiration Date

[cindyo]

I am only posting this because we just threw out a lot of expired sun screen. Aruba is NOT the place you want "dead" sunscreen. Check the printed exp date on the bottles. Sometimes they are in some wierd code. Go to the web site of the sunscreen and pull up their codes. For example, Hawaiian tropic, has their own lingo, and we found several bottles that had expired a yr ago. Sounds stupid, I know, but heck, I 'd rather go on vacation with a fresh bottle than a dead one..Also, call the manuf. phone and ask them for their codes.

[Arubalisa]

Excellent info to know, thank you!

[rob o]

Hawaiian Tropic example...
6235E
6 refers to year of manufacture, in this example 2006
E refers to month, 5th month is May (by the way, they skip some letters, like I)
Thus, made in May 2006
Good for three years....until May 2009
There will be a test as follows:
7568K....when does it expire....class?

[Andrea J.]

answer: it never expires. it's like that margarine that is really not even a food product, never expires, rot, curdles etc..
is that correct?
andrea

Originally Posted by rob o

Hawaiian Tropic example...
6235E
6 refers to year of manufacture, in this example 2006
E refers to month, 5th month is May (by the way, they skip some letters, like I)
Thus, made in May 2006
Good for three years....until May 2009
There will be a test as follows:
7568K....when does it expire....class?

[phillyboater]

Not so sure it does not expire. Wife developed a rash from expired sunscreen in November in Aruba. Switched to fresh Aruba Aloe and problem disappeared. Chemicals can change as they age, especially if temperatures vary or exposed to direct sunlight.

[rob o]

I am still waiting for a correct answer.....anyone else want to try?

[corona]

My mother-in-law bought a brand name sunscreen at a deep discount store. When she got home, she saw that it had expired. She called the company, and they told her that it wouldn't harm her, but that it might not be as effective. They sent her a coupon for a new bottle. So, especially traveling to someplace with the kind of intense sun you get in Aruba, I would only take fresh sunscreen.

My son got a rash once after using sunscreen, and it was a new bottle, nobody else was affected, and it was also a well known brand. It was really strange, but it never happened again.

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by corona

My son got a rash once after using sunscreen, and it was a new bottle, nobody else was affected, and it was also a well known brand. It was really strange, but it never happened again.

Dd came down with a red rash twice in the Caribbean (once Aruba). I read an article that this can sometimes come from sunscreen which has too high of an SPF. We switched her from spf 48 to 30 and <<knock on wood>> no more troubles.

[corona]

Thanks Lisa....that may be the cause (high spf sunscreen). Again, my mother-in-law, who is really afraid of sunburn. I'm sure it was a very high spf sunsreen that she used on hiim. Great to know.

[Chadd]

If you use reef safe or biodegradable sunblock, always remember to check the expiration date. Bad things can happen if you don't. Excuse me while I go ice down my body before dinner at WW.