UK sunscreen advice "blunder"
Wednesday June 1st, 2011
The official advice that Britons are getting on sunscreen does not go far enough, experts alleged today.
Recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) says that, used properly, a sunscreen with a sun protection factor
(SPF) of at least 15 is enough to prevent sunburn during all-day exposure
to tropical sunshine.
But an editorial in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin states that this recommendation is "not in the interests of public health." It says that, in reality, people using sunscreens typically apply much less than is used in the manufacturer's tests, and get no more than half, at best, of the protection indicated on the label.
The editorial says that applying sunscreen as thickly as recommended is "almost impossible", as it runs off the skin. It would also be expensive, requiring a standard 200ml bottle of sunscreen every two to three days.
However, products labelled with an SPF of 30, plus a 4- or 5-star UVA rating, "would more reliably deliver adequate sun protection" and be sufficient under most circumstances. "We believe that this is what NICE should have recommended," the editorial states.
It also advises sunscreen users to spread sunscreen evenly, re-apply after swimming or heavy sweating, and not to use sunscreen to prolong time spent in the sun.
The authors add that the standard for testing sunscreens should be changed to accurately reflect how people use it in real life.
Journal editor, Dr Ike Iheanacho, commented: "NICE's recommendation to use sunscreens with an SPF as low as 15 is a blunder that overlooks the key evidence, and is not in the best interests of public health. This advice needs urgent review and correction."
But NICE today rejected the criticism.
Professor Mike Kelly, of NICE, said: "We felt it was important, in producing this guidance, to maintain a balance – recognising on the one hand the very real dangers of skin cancer, but also remembering on the other hand that we should not extrapolate from research carried out in much hotter, sunnier climates than our own.
We commissioned an expert report on the use of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer in England. According to this evidence, which was presented to the committee, SPF 15 should be sufficient as long as it is applied adequately."
Sunscreen SPFs: clear as daylight? Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, Vol. 49, June 2011.
Tags: Cancer | Dermatology | General Health | UK News
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