Frequently Asked Questions

The following are Frequently Asked Questions about Sun-Blaster and sunscreens in general.

How likely am I to experience an allergic reaction when using Sun-Blaster?

The incidence of allergic reactions to the active ingredients of sunscreens is actually very low. However there are a significant number of allergic reactions to sunscreen products. The usual cause for this is a reaction to one or other of the preservatives used in sunscreen creams and lotions, or to the fragrance used in the product. Sun-Blaster contains no preservatives: the spirit base acts as a preservative, and there is a minimum amount of fragrance added to the product – just enough to disguise the spirit base. The addition of Aloe Vera gel to the formulation counteracts the astringency of the spirit. Since 1998 there has been just one reported incidence of an allergic reaction to Sun-Blaster.

Is Sun-Blaster going to stain my clothes?

It shouldn't do, when used as directed, but it's possible that this may happen if a very large amount of product is applied or, more importantly, if the product comes in contact with a susceptible fabric. Many users have reported that, unlike conventional products, Sun-Blaster does not stain clothing. If you have concerns the best thing is to test Sun-Blaster on an 'invisible' part of the garment which you're concerned about, and leave it for some hours to see if there is any reaction.

Does Sun-Blaster provide protection against UVA as well as UVB?

Sun-Blaster contains three active ingredients. One is a UVB absorber, another is a UVA absorber and the third straddles the spectrum between the two. UVB causes sunburn, whilst it is increasingly believed that UVA triggers the changes that lead to the development of melanoma (in susceptible individuals). Sun-Blaster provides protection across a broad spectrum of UV radiation.

Sunburn treatment: What works? What's the most effective sunburn treatment? When does sunburn require medical attention?

Unfortunately, there's no fast-fix sunburn treatment. Once you have sunburn, the damage is done — although it may take 12 to 24 hours after sun exposure to know the full extent and severity of sunburn, and several days or more for your skin to begin to heal.

In the meantime, the most effective sunburn treatment simply helps ease your discomfort:

• Keep it cool. Apply cold compresses — such as a towel dampened with cool water — to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath.

• Keep it moist. Apply aloe, moisturizing cream or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the affected skin. Beware of sunburn treatment products containing anesthetics, such as benzocaine. There's little evidence that these products are effective. In some cases, they may even irritate the skin.

• Leave blisters intact. If blisters form, don't break them. You'll only slow the healing process and increase the risk of infection. If needed, lightly cover blisters with gauze.

• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If needed, take anti-inflammatory medication — such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) — according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subside. Don't give children or teenagers aspirin. It may cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.

• Treat peeling skin gently. Within a few days, the affected area may begin to peel. This is simply your body's way of getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin. While your skin is peeling, continue to use moisturizing cream.

Consult a doctor for sunburn treatment if, Severe sunburn covers a large portion of your body with blisters, Sunburn is accompanied by a high fever or severe pain, Severe sunburn doesn't begin to improve within a few days.

To prevent future episodes of sunburn, use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Common sense counts, too. Cover up while you're outdoors, and stay in the shade as much as possible.

What trials have been done on Sun-Blaster? How effective is it?

When Sun-Blaster was first developed in 1998 it was tested at the Australian Photobiology Testing Facility at the University of Sydney. The internationally agreed protocol for the testing of sunscreens requires that a product, usually a cream, lotion or gel, be applied at the rate of 2mg/cm2. The product is applied manually, using a finger stall (or plastic glove), to spread the product evenly over the test area. It is from this rate of application that quoted SPF levels are determined. However, it is known that in real life people only apply about one third of this official test quantity and that the SPF they actually achieve on their skin is likely to be no more than one third, or even one quarter of that stated on the packaging. In other words a sunscreen 'rated' at SPF 30 probably achieves an SPF of about 7-8 in real life.

Sun-Blaster is a volatile agent and cannot be applied according to this protocol. When tested, it achieved an SPF of between 10 and 16 on first application. When a second application was applied (as recommended on the packaging of Sun-Blaster) its SPF increased to 20-30.

Can I use Sun-Blaster with make-up?

Yes! Sun-Blaster was first used by the film production industry on Xena – Warrior Princess and Hercules. It has subsequently been used in numerous other New Zealand products such as The Last Samurai, (who ordered 90 gallons of it), Whale-Rider, The Lord of the Rings, Mercy Peak, The Strip and numerous other TV productions.

Is Sun-Blaster safe to use on children?

Sun-Blaster is an excellent sunscreen for children – because it's so easy and convenient to apply - and re-apply! For very young children it is important to make sure that the product is not sprayed into their eyes, and for children under the age of perhaps 3 or 4 it is probably better to apply the spray to your hand first, and then apply it manually to their face. (In fact Sun-Blaster works better when it is applied directly to the skin, so for adults and older children, direct application to the face is best – obviously with the individual keeping their eyes closed for a few seconds after application.) For little kids' necks and ears, etc, Sun-Blaster is a perfect form of sunscreen application.

Please remember that infants under 12 months should not be exposed to the sun at all if possible, but any areas that might be exposed – feet/ankles, hands/wrists, etc – can easily and effectively be protected with Sun-Blaster.

Is insect repellent compatible with Sun-Blaster?

Formal testing for this has not been undertaken, but subjective feedback from users suggests that when used together the efficacy of both the insect repellent and the sunscreening abilities of Sun-Blaster is maintained.

Where can I get Sun-Blaster?

Sun-Blaster is best ordered direct from this website. There are a few retailers who stock the product, specifically some of the pharmacies throughout New Zealand, Many Golf Pro Shops. And Shell Service Stations. But in general, the most reliable source is here

Useful terms

Epidemiology: The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related conditions and events in a population. Erythema/sunburn: One of the acute health effects of excess UV exposure is the familiar reddening of the skin, commonly known as sunburn, and medically termed erythema. The degree of erythema will depend on your skin type and your ability to adapt to UV exposure.

Skin cancer: There are two broad types of skin cancer, non-melanoma (NM) and malignant melanoma (MM). NM is most often prevalent on frequently exposed body parts, such as the face and forearms, suggesting that long-term, frequent UV exposure may be a predominant cause. It is not often fatal (86 deaths in NZ in 2000), although surgical removal may be painful and disfiguring. MM more frequently results in death (253 deaths in 2000) and its risk seems to correlate with genetic characteristics and individual UV exposure patterns. The estimated health system treatment cost for skin cancers in NZ is $33 million per annum.

Ultraviolet radiation: UV radiation comes from the sun as well as artificial sources, such as certain machines used in industry and commerce. The UV region, a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, consists of the wavelengths from 100 to 400 nm and is divided into three bands: UVA (315–400 nm), UVB (280–315 nm) and UVC (100–280 nm). UV Index: The UVI is a relatively simple measure of UV taken at the earth’s surface. The UVI ranges from zero upwards and the higher the number, the greater the risk of potential damage to the human body. The UVI, therefore, indicates the possibility that adverse health effects may occur and provides opportunities for recommending appropriate sun protection precautions.

Useful links

US EPA SunWise programme: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise
World Health Org – ultraviolet radiation: http://www.who.int/topics/ultraviolet_radiation
World Health Org – UV Index: :http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/who271
UV in New Zealand: http://www.niwa.co.nz/services/uvozone