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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is calling for clearer labelling on sunscreens after a survey revealed a lack of understanding about the degree of sun protection offered by different products.

Of the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, just eight per cent knew that the sun protection factor (SPF) rating only refers to the protection from UVB rays, and does not include protection against UVA rays, which is typically indicated by a separate 'star' rating. Over half thought that the SPF indicated both UVB and UVA protection, while a quarter simply did not know what the rating meant.

To overcome this confusion, the RPS is calling for sunscreen manufacturers to introduce a uniform measure for all sun protection products that is easy to understand.

RPS chief scientist Professor Jayne Lawrence, said: €People shouldn't have to pick their way through complicated dual ratings information to understand how sunscreen works and the amount of protection it potentially provides.€