Female student's skin burned after applying 'Japanese domestic super sunscreen SPF 70'

After only using a few times the 'SPF 70 super sunscreen' advertised as a Japanese domestic product, the female student had to go to a medical facility because her face was burning, peeling and dark.

Doctor Nguyen Tien Thanh examines a patient - Photo: BVCC

Inviting trouble because of floating cosmetics

After using sunscreen purchased online, Bao Tran (name changed), 19 years old, a student at a university in Hanoi, had to go to a medical facility for examination with peeling, dark spots on her face.

Tran shared that to protect her skin from the sun, she joined a beauty group on social media. After seeing a seller introduce a "Japanese domestic product" sunscreen, with an SPF of 70 on the packaging for only 95,000 VND - much cheaper than other popular products, she bought it to use.

"The seller promised that the product was hand-carried, high quality, and protected against the sun all day without needing to reapply. Seeing many people commenting positively, I trusted it and immediately ordered 2 tubes," Tran said.

However, after 3 consecutive days of using this cream while going to school and going out in the sun, Tran began to feel her face burning, tight, red and gradually dark spots appeared on both cheeks, especially on the cheekbones and forehead.

Directly examining the patient, Dr. Nguyen Tien Thanh - member of the Vietnam Dermatology Association - said that the patient came in with acute skin damage, redness, itching, facial swelling, and itching and burning in the areas where the cream was applied.

This is a typical manifestation of skin allergy to sunscreen ingredients and not being protected from UV rays when exposed directly to sunlight. Tran was diagnosed by the doctor with allergic contact dermatitis, sunburn with risk of increased skin pigmentation on the forehead and cheeks.

After a week of treatment and skin care following a regimen including oral anti-inflammatory medication, topical skin regeneration medication, and avoiding direct exposure to sunlight, the damage showed signs of recovery.

However, Dr. Thanh warns that areas of skin darkened by sunburn will take a long time to fully recover and may even leave permanent hyperpigmentation.

Be careful when using cosmetics

According to Dr. Thanh, it is highly likely that the sunscreen Tran used is a poor quality product and does not have the sun protection ability as stated on the packaging.

"SPF 70 is usually only found in specialized products that are strictly tested and used for very specific tasks such as working in environments with extremely strong UV radiation.

On the other hand, SPF 70 sounds high, but high SPF does not mean absolute protection.

SPF 70 only filters out about 98.6% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 filters out 98% - the difference is so small that it's often more of a marketing point than a clinical reality.

"With a product that has no clear brand name, no Vietnamese sub-label, and is too cheap, it is very likely to be a fake or smuggled product," Dr. Thanh informed.

This expert also recommends that women, especially young people, should not be greedy for cheap prices or believe in unverified advertisements on the internet. Cosmetics - especially skin treatment or protection products - should be purchased at pharmacies, genuine distribution systems, where there are invoices, documents and clear origins.

"Cosmetics are products used directly on the body, you should not compromise your skin's health just because of cheapness. Be a smart consumer, especially in the current context of fake cosmetics being rampant," Dr. Thanh advised.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-sinh-chay-da-vi-boi-kem-sieu-chong-nang-spf-70-noi-dia-nhat-2025061609091696.htm