Does a UV sticker help you apply sunscreen better?

In Het Nieuwsblad's 'Werkt dat wel?' ('Does it actually work?') column, Dr Griet Voet looks at UV stickers: small patches that change colour again once the sunscreen on them has worn off. Research shows that users reapply more often, especially those who tend to forget.

Even so, according to her, the stickers do not automatically lead to less sunburn. In some studies, users even got sunburnt more often, possibly because they applied too little or unevenly and relied on the sticker. A sticker also only partly mimics real skin: sweat, sebum, skin folds and hair are missing, and differences in skin type or weather are not taken into account. The sticker can be a useful aid, but it does not replace clothing, shade and enough sunscreen.

• Use a UV sticker at most as a reminder to reapply.

• Keep wearing protective clothing and seeking shade.

• Apply enough sunscreen, evenly, regardless of what the sticker shows.