Slap on suncreen daily, new guidelines say

By | January 25, 2019

The new policy is a step up from the old advice, which recommended people use sunscreen when planning to spend time outside.

But sun safety authorities now say that’s insufficient to guard against DNA damage caused by repeated, small doses of sunlight like you might get hanging out the washing.

The new consensus is that the vast majority of Australians need to treat sunscreen application as an essential part of their morning routine, like brushing teeth.

The change follows a national summit last year, which examined the latest evidence about sunscreen use.

The new advice, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, says Aussies should use sunscreen every day when the maximum UV level is forecast to be three or higher.

For much of Australia, that means people should apply sunscreen all year round, with the exception of places like Tasmania and Victoria there are a few months over winter when sunscreen is not required.

Cancer Council prevention advisor Craig Sinclair says fewer Australians should develop skin cancer if they follow the new advice.

And he says Australians must get over some myths about sunscreen.

“Worryingly, research from Cancer Council’s National Sun Protection Survey showed that nearly one in two Australians mistakenly believe that sunscreen can’t be used safely on a daily basis,” he said in a statement.

THE LATEST ADVICE ON SUNSCREEN, BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE:

* All year round: Brisbane, Perth and Darwin

* Every month except June: Sydney

* Every month except June and July: Canberra and Adelaide

* Every month except between May and July: Melbourne

* Every month except between May and August: Hobart

Australian Associated Press

Western Advocate – Health