Proderm Transdermal Sun Protection Mousse

Author's product rating:   

Sun Protection Factor	SPF 30
Water resistancy	Excellent

Advantages:	Protection lasts for up to 6 hours, very effective, not messy
Disadvantages:	Possibly price, but this is offset by the protection offered and the longevity of each 150ml container

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The way I go on about the risks from the sun, people probably think I am a hermit who stays inside during the long sunny summer months, and you would probably be right. But, this is only because I find the UK heat (when we have it) so oppressive and it plays havoc with my eczema, combine this with hayfever and you start to get the bigger picture.

However, I make a point of having two sun holidays abroad every year. The relaxation combined with a dryer heat (usually, Ibiza last year was the exception), lots of cold mineral water and alcohol does wonders for my eczema, and generally clears it, for a short time at least.

Being VERY fair skinned, as a kid, I always used to groan because I couldn’t go the same beautiful shade of brown as my friends. If I did catch the sun, I spent a week in bed vomiting with serious headaches and nosebleeds, so I used to cover up and not go out.

However, fast-forward some 23 years or so, and I was subjected to UVB treatment for severe eczema. At that point I knew, but ignored the risks of skin cancer just so my eczema would clear, and it worked, and has remained controlled (not gone) since then.

However, I am waffling now, there is no secret that my partner was diagnosed with Malignant melanoma in January 2001, and went to hell and back in the process. One of our two sun holidays for that year had to be cancelled because he had just had the operation, but he was determined to be at the later one. At a consultation with his specialist, he asked him how he could protect himself. This found him kitted out with enough pads to sink the titanic to protect his still then very sensitive wound, and advice on sun protection.

And that sun protection was Proderm,

SO WHAT IS IT?
Unlike most sunscreens which are generally liquids, creams or sprays, this is a mousse, no, not the kind you eat, but like the stuff you put on your hair, but a lot more aerated. It is designed to protect against both UVA and UVB rays and is available in Sun Protection Factors 8, 15 and 30. Proderm also make an after-sun, a nappy rash product, and a mousse for relieving the itching associated with eczema. The product was originally designed to protect people with eczema and therefore should be safe for those with sensitive skins. My skin reacts appallingly to almost everything, but I have never met a problem with Proderm.

WHO MAKES IT?
The Proderm range is made by a Swedish Medical research company Ponsus Pharma. They specialise in developing advanced skin car products based on a technology that makes their products work in ‘symbiosis’ (A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence) with the skin.

Ponsos has been so successful with its Proderm range that it is now getting ready to float on the stock exchange.

Proderm is distributed in the UK by Chefaro UK based in Cambridgeshire.

HOW TO USE
The easiest way to describe it for the ladies, is exactly as you would for a hair mousse. Give it a shake, squirt a ball sized amount into your hands and apply to the required area. A little goes a long way, and any surplus will quickly be absorbed into the skin.

You are advised to apply it at least every 6 hours, although we normally use it around every 4 hours if we are out and being subjected to the suns ravages. I must confess to touching up my face every time I go for a swim, particularly my nose, which has been known to resemble rudolphs at times in the past.

WHERE TO BUY IT?
When we first heard about it, it was difficult to obtain. None of the local pharmacies kept it (or had heard of it), and our central Boots had to order it in specially. We were also initially shocked at the price, £12.50 for a can of factor 30, surprised that skin cancer sufferers don’t get it on prescription.

Nowadays you can get it from good pharmacies and on-line store, ‘Pharmacy 2 u’ are selling it for £8.99 (SPF8), £9.99 (SPF15) and £11.99 (SPF30), indicating there is a £1 off the RRP. However, Martin says you can get offers in Tesco’s and Superdrug cheaper, and that it is now much more widely available than 3 years ago.

You can also buy an SPF25 at some stores, price is £10.99.

DOES IT WORK?
Are you kidding? The first holiday, it was so difficult to get, that its use was restricted to Martin to ensure we didn’t run out. However, now we use nothing else, and keep stocks of it in the cupboard. I can honestly say that using the SPF 30 and 15, none of us have burnt ever. After-sun is never needed (although always a companion), and if you do insist on exposing yourself to the sun for prolonged periods, you will gain a mellow, subtle tan.

Tasha has been spending her Sundays at the local beach during the recent heatwave, and she has been the only one not to burn, despite being the fairest skinned of nearly all her friends.

It remains intact and working in the sea, in the pool, walking around, sweat, nothing shifts this and dampens its effectiveness, simply because it doesn’t sit on the surface of the skin like most other products. It also stops sand sticking to you when you are on the beach.

Because it is absorbed, if you apply it a short time before covering up with T-Shirts etc, it won’t stain your clothes. Don’t forget, the suns rays can penetrate through most clothing.

Unlike many other products, there is also no distinct smell.

While this product is undeniably brilliant, it goes without saying that you should still take sensible precautions in the sun, particularly if you are not regularly exposed to it. There is increasing evidence that those exposed to short bursts of prolonged sun such as family holidays are at a heightened risk of skin cancer, more so than those who are exposed regularly. This does not include sunbeds which are still one of the biggest contributory factors to the condition.

• Stay out of the midday sun (purported to be 12 – 4 or 11 – 3 depending on which book you read)
• Protect yourself with clothing
• Use hats, our kids seldom go anywhere without them while away
• Seek out natural shade
• Drink lots of water
• Enjoy your holiday, safely

SUMMARY
I can’t rate this product highly enough, if there was 6 stars it would get it. Despite being expensive, although I suspect, not much more than some of the Ambre Solaire and Nivea products, it lasts a long-time. A 150 ml tin of factor 30, combined with 15 for the more generally exposed areas of the body such as the lower arms, can easily last us for two full holidays for 4 and 2 people respectively, plus use in between.

One word of warning, the container is pressurised and therefore should not be exposed to direct sunlight or heat, or it could explode.

Highly, highly recommended.

To find out more about this new, ground breaking product, visit:

http://www.ponsus.com

AVAILABILITY UPDATE - 13/07/04
I thought I would add this as I have had an interesting experience today trying to get hold of Proderm. I visited my local pharmacy who advised me they couldn't get hold of it because it had been discontinued by the manufacturer.

A quick phone call to Chefaro UK established that this was incorrect, at which point I was lucky enough to be able to call in a few favours from my former employer.

The long and the short of it is if you visit a pharmacy that is supplied by Vestric / AAH / Gehe (all the same company) they will tell you that Proderm has been discontinued by the company, this is simply NOT the case.

Sue