A WOMAN has shared an urgent warning to check your sunscreen bottles after she claimed to have suffered a horror burn.
The TikTok user showed her followers a scaly wound covering her whole forehead and urged them to make sure their sunblock isn’t expired before applying.
A woman claimed on TikTok that she was severely burned after ignoring an important detail of her sunscreenTikTok
The TikTok user is urging her followers to check expiration dates on bottlesTikTok
Morgan Vacala posted a video on the social media app with the caption: “Don’t be stupid, check the expiration date on your sunscreen.”
She wrote in a text overlay, “I’ll never forget the look on the doctors face,” while showing an apparent wound on her forehead.
People took to the comments to get more information on what caused the reported injury.
“IT EXPIRES??? I’m a grown adult and didn’t realize,” one person commented.
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Morgan responded, “my forehead will tell you it does in fact expire.”
Another person said, “Happened to me as a child. That’s why I always buy new sunscreen every year. Ouch!”
Apparently, sunscreen loses its effectiveness as it sits, with the NHS recently warning Brits to check if their bottles were still effective as temperatures rocketed.
“The longer a bottle of sunscreen is open, the less effective it is at protecting you,” it wrote on Twitter.
“If you’re using the same sunscreen from last summer, check that it hasn’t expired.”
Expired sun cream won’t be effective in protection you from the sun, the NHS went on – the opened jar symbol on the bottle will show you how many months it will last once opened.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration said: “To make sure that your sunscreen is providing the sun protection promised in its labelling, the FDA recommends that you do not use sunscreen products that have passed their expiration date (if there is one), or that have no expiration date and were not purchased within the last three years.
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“Expired sunscreens should be discarded because there is no assurance that they remain safe and fully effective.”
Morgan posted a follow-up video explaining what reportedly happened the day she got her burn.
“One year ago today, I was standing in this exact spot without a hat on wearing expired sunscreen,” she said while standing in a pool.
She panned the camera to a group of friends, who humorously chanted: “Don’t buy Banana Boat!”
Morgan posted a third video of the reported healing process.
“It took about 2-3 weeks to fully heal. I grew up boating & always in the pool. Never had an issue burning like this,” she wrote in a text overlay.
Text over a final photo in the video stated: “Hats are my new best friend.”
The TikTok videos have been viewed millions of times.
The US Sun reached out to Edgewell Personal Care, the company that manages the Banana Boat brand, for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
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The Banana Boat website says that the average product with SPF remains effective for three years from the date of manufacture.
The company added that the date is found on the bottom of bottles or toward the bottom of labels.
Sun safety tips
Sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer.
Though the UK’s recent sunny weather might have prompted many to stock up on sun protection, the NHS emphasised that you can still burn when it’s cloudy.
It recommended you spend time in the shade while the sun is hottest between 11am and 3pm, cover up with clothing and sunglasses and use sunscreen with at least factor 30.
You might also not be applying enough of the stuff to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.
“As a guide, adults should aim to apply around 6 to 8 teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re covering your entire body.
“If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is reduced,” the NHS added.
If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:
30 minutes before going outjust before going out
You should also liberally and frequently re-apply it while you’re out – including straight after having a dip in the water or after towel drying or sweating.
Dermatologist Dr Hiba Injibar recently warned against getting a pre-holiday ‘base tan’, as it won’t provide you with sun protection and wil still damage your skin.
And experts told The Sun three budget-friendly hacks to ease sunburn fast.