Walgreens owned British drug chain Boots private brand Soltan has announced that it will no longer produce sun protection with SPF lower than SPF50 for children and SPF15 for adults. In the first year of its sun safety partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Soltan is committed to helping customers to stay protected in the sun and encourage sun safe behavior.

Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, refers to the amount of UVB protection a product provides from the damaging effects of the sun. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from UVB rays and sunburn and the lower the risk of developing skin cancer. As such, Soltan wants to encourage customers to keep themselves and their families safe and protected by using products with higher SPF levels.

Clare O’Connor, Boots Soltan Suncare Expert, said: “Through our partnership with Macmillan, we’re committed to taking action to improve sun safety. We know that using sun screen is one of the main methods of keeping skin protected in the sun, so we want to support our customers to make a simple switch to protect their skin with higher SPF with UVA protection. This is particularly important for children, whose skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so we want to help parents in choosing the highest protection available.”

Dr Anthony Cunliffe, National Clinical Advisor for Primary Care at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Soltan as their first ever ‘Sun Safety Partner’. Initiatives like this are really important because wearing higher factor SPF, along with steps like spending time in the shade, can provide better protection from the sun and lower your risk of developing skin cancer. Anyone with concerns about changes to their skin should contact their GP, and they can also chat to specially trained nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.”

All Soltan products also offer the highest 5 UVA protection. UVA rays penetrate the skin and can cause long-term damage and skin aging. Soltan developed the star rating system in 1992 and it has since become widely used across the industry. Soltan was the first brand to include 5* UVA in all products, and this continues today to ensure uncompromising protection.

Soltan continues to focus on educating children about the importance of sun safety, through its Sun Ready Schools program which provides materials and guidance for teachers to use in schools.

Additionally, Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists (BMIPs) are now available in every Boots pharmacy across the UK to offer support to cancer patients. In partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Boots has trained over 4,000 BMIPs to ensure they can offer free and accessible information, support and advice to cancer patients and their friends and family. Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are also available to support customers with beauty advice as they experience the side effects of cancer treatment.