Review date
June 2024
Article publication date
June 2024
Summary
This review included experts from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe and aims to create comprehensive global advice on practical steps to be taken to reduce the toll of skin cancer. The review evaluated the information on when to avoid sun exposure, what types of materials are most effective at blocking sun exposure, and the dangers of using solariums. The human health impacts of absorbance of sunscreen into the body were also assessed in the review. It was reported that there is currently no evidence that long-term use (and absorbance) of sunscreen has an impact on human health. The authors recommend that people should use a combination of protective measures including seeking shade, physical protection (clothing, hat, sunglasses) and apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen to prevent skin cancer incidence. Further, it also recommends that these protective measures are more important for fair skinned people, especially children.
Link to
Published In
National Library of Medicine
ARPANSA commentary
The review made a number of recommendations on steps that individuals should take to protect themselves from sun exposure and that could be promoted by national organisations to help improve the health of their citizens. These recommendations are very similar to those promoted by Australian Cancer Council and ARPANSA. The Australian messaging from these two organisations is that all Australians when spending time outdoors in the sun should slip on a hat, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses (Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide). However, even when using these protective measures, sun exposure in the middle of the day when ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is at its peak should be avoided.
In Australia two-thirds of Australians receiving a skin cancer diagnosis of some type in their lifetime. For melanoma specifically, it is estimated that 1 in 21 Australian women and 1 in 14 Australian men will be diagnosed with melanoma by the time they reach the age of 85 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023).
ARPANSA UVR monitors that provide real time data on UVR levels for cities across Australia. This forms the ARPANSA’s UV monitoring Network system, which provides the daily UV index data (ARPANSA Ultraviolet Radiation Index webpage). This UV data are shared by news organisations and can be found on the Cancer Council website. The UV index helps Australians know when UV exposure is high, and they should avoid sun exposure or practice other sun protection measures. More information on UV protection can be found on the ARPANSA Sun Protection factsheet.
