Australia shocked by sunburn drama: this is what's happening

Australia has been rocked by a major sunscreen scandal. Research shows that popular and expensive creams don't offer nearly the protection they promise.

Nowhere else in the world is skin cancer so prevalent: two out of three Australians are found to have suspicious spots. This is largely due to the intense UV radiation, partly because the ozone layer above the country is thinner. Residents are taught from a young age that they should never go out in the sun unprotected and that they should wear sunscreen.

Consumer organization Choice Australia tested twenty creams , and the results were shocking. Sixteen products failed to live up to their packaging promises. The biggest disappointment: a face cream that promised an SPF of 50+, but in practice, only achieved an SPF of 4.

One of the users, 34-year-old Rach, told the BBC She relied on that sunscreen for years. Yet, a spot on her nose turned out to be skin cancer. "I thought I was doing everything right, but it still happened. The fact that the sunscreen wasn't reliable made it extra painful." After surgery, she was left with a scar on her face.

Customer anger is widespread. The Australian Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has launched an investigation, and several creams have been removed from shelves.

Manufacturer Ultra Violette, responsible for the misleading face cream, apologized. Additional tests revealed widely varying results, ranging from SPF 4 to 64. "That's not good enough for us and not good enough for you," the company stated. Consumers will receive a refund.