Australia is unparalleled across the globe in its melanoma rates. Lung cancer is the country’s third most prevalent disease overall. Beyond this scary statistic, there are plenty of reasons to practice safe sun measures. BUY CHOICE’s investigation into 20 best-selling sunscreen products seen in Australian pharmacies and supermarkets corroborates this urgency. The results showed that just four out of these products correctly corresponded to their advertised Sun Protection Factor (SPF) ratings. This is understandably causing the health advocacy community to question whether wearing sunscreen truly protects us from skin cancer.
The recent CHOICE report didn’t just sample a few sunscreens. It discovered that 50 percent of sunscreen products advertised SPF claims of 30 to 50, while six products offered SPF of 20 to 30. These subpar SPF offerings are not enough protection for all those who work, play and live outside most of the day. Considering that Australia’s UV levels can regularly go as high as 12, 13 or even 14 during the summer months, this is a huge deal. The highest UV index you would tend to see in the UK or anywhere in Europe is 6 at the height of summer.
Professor David Whiteman from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute said it was crucial to keep sun protection up. He is adamant that sunscreen is still our most important tool in fighting skin cancers – melanoma included.
“You know, if you’re using sunscreen at the moment and it’s working, you’re not getting burnt, then continue to do that… But we just stick to the science at the moment.” – Professor David Whiteman
Wellness Warriors Australian Skin Cancer Foundation, founded by melanoma-conqueror Jay Allan, who was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2008. Allan continues to be an advocate for sun safety and believes more needs to be done to encourage Australians to adopt consistent sun protection.
“You know I know myself, my wife and kids we put it on religiously every single day. We reapply as well, and it worked; we don’t get burnt.” – Jay Allan
Tamara Dawson is the founder of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network. She notes that the key is keeping up with daily sun protection regimens. This variation can be a significant issue for Australians, needing them to be aware of UV index throughout regions and seasons, with Dr.
“It’s important for all Australians to really understand what the U-V index is where they live.” – Tamara Dawson
Consequently, Australia’s UV levels continue to be high, even during winter, with most of the country exposed to scores of 3 or higher. This extreme UV exposure translates into a need for sun protection year-round and even around the clock.
Ashley De Silva, advocacy chair with the Community Action Partnership of Los Angeles County. In the wake of her investigation, targeting misrepresentations in the sunscreen market, she calls for regulatory action. That’s why he’s adamant that consumers deserve products they can trust that deliver on their SPF promises.
“The TGA needs to kind of look at the fact that this is so far apart… at least for the compliance testing on the 16 products that we’ve tested that didn’t meet their claims.” – Ashley De Silva
De Silva continues by emphasizing that sunscreen is vital to sun protection, but it shouldn’t be the only way you protect yourself from the sun. He encourages others to take the effort further by seeking shade, wearing hats and protective clothing, in addition to applying sunscreen.
“Sunscreen is really the last line of defence for skin that is unprotected to other measures.” – Ashley De Silva
Australia’s long-running Slip, Slop, Slap public health campaign has been at the forefront of changing sun behaviour since the 1980s. This shirt campaign empowers Australians to wear their sun protection. It even encourages using sunscreen and wearing a protective hat to guard against dangerous UV rays.
The recent findings from CHOICE report have sparked debates about the effectiveness of your favorite sunscreen brands. Now experts are raising alarm over the need for more thorough testing and more transparency in sunscreen formulations. The outcome was a shocking lack of consistency. Performance by product varied enormously. Brands such as Cancer Council and Neutrogena performed well, but others did not back up their advertisements with the appropriate SPF protection.
“We picked a whole range of brands… It’s not necessarily brand related; it’s very specific to the product.” – Ashley De Silva
Professor Whiteman highlights the need for tailored communication strategies for sun safety. He shines a light especially on issues faced by people considered most at-risk for skin cancers. He understands the difficulty here, given the contrast in skin tone and risk between Australians.
“Look it certainly introduces new communication challenges… People at higher risks maintain their very high level of sun protection.” – Professor David Whiteman
