Sunscreens: more harm than good?
With one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, Australians rely on sunscreen to protect them from burning UV rays. Yet what happens when doubt is cast on the very product meant to shield us? Genevieve Gannon investigates.
Sunscreen is supposedly a safety product, a major weapon in warding off the harmful, cancer-causing effects of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Yet, earlier this summer, decades of carefully nurtured public confidence in sunscreen came under intense scrutiny when a woman posted photos of her baby on Cancer Council Australia’s Facebook page.
The three-month-old’s skin was inflamed and raw with what resembled angry red blotches. The little boy, said his mother, had to be hospitalised.
Yet here’s the rub – Queensland mum Jessie Swan wrote that her son’s skin turned red after she applied Cancer Council’s Peppa Pig-branded SPF 50+ sunscreen as a precaution, but he hadn’t been in direct sun. Cancer Council advised Jessie to consult a dermatologist to identify whether the cause was an allergic reaction to its product or something else.
Jessie’s post touched a raw nerve for dozens of Australians, setting off outrage in some sections of the media and prompting dozens of similar complaints. People across the country reported burning, welts and peeling after using the same Peppa
Pig product. More photographs of blistered skin appeared on Cancer Council’s Facebook page amid calls for the sunscreen to be recalled.
As a result, Cancer Council asked people who had experienced a bad reaction to return the sunscreen for analysis and it also conducted random tests of the product on shelves.
The chorus of complaints has cast a pall over sunscreen’s ability to protect us from the sun and stirred calls for an investigation. Yet, at the same time, health groups say the far greater danger would be for people to stop using sunscreen, which provides vital protection against skin cancer.
So what is the truth? Is sunscreen doing the job it is supposed to?
Tried and tested
The ingredients used in sunscreens and the concentrations of active ingredients are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, but are not completely risk-free.
Like hair dye, fake tan and anything chemical-based that you apply to your body, sunscreen manufacturers urge people to do patch tests first.
“I think people are starting to think of sunscreen as a bit like a moisturiser, and not like a medicine, when it’s in fact regulated like a medicine,” says Cancer Council CEO Sanchia Aranda.
“You’re always concerned about people who get a reaction. There needs to be more emphasis on patch testing.”
Anything sold as a sunscreen in Australia has to go through a rigorous process which involves testing the individual ingredients and the finished formula in an accredited laboratory.
The people who had contacted Cancer Council after suffering an allergic reaction to the Peppa Pig product were referred to a dermatologist.
“Sunscreens are made up of a list of ingredients that you’re allowed to use in Australia,” says Professor Aranda. “So, if you’re allergic to our sunscreen, you’re likely to be allergic to others on the market.”
A range of factors – such as your skin type or even the product’s use-by date – may cause a reaction. Some medications, such as antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, antidepressants and immunosuppressants can increase photosensitivity to harmful UV rays, making people who take these medications more susceptible to sun damage. When in doubt, speak to your doctor and adapt your sun-safety measures.
Chemical vs physical blockers
It’s estimated that less than 1 per cent of the population react to the active ingredients in sunscreen. The peak body for skin specialists says the sun-blocking chemicals tend to be benign and it’s more likely that preservatives and other additives are causing the irritation.
There’s a thriving market for natural sunscreens, which eschew chemical blocker ingredients, which absorb UV rays. Instead, these natural products use physical blockers, such as zinc, that reflect UV rays. Skin specialists endorse both, but Associate Professor Rosemary Nixon, a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, says that a combination of the chemical and physical blockers provides the best shield against the sun’s rays.
The correct application
Many of the people who complained about the Peppa Pig sunscreen said their skin burned because the sunscreen failed, rather than it caused an allergic reaction. In the wake of such complaints, Cancer Council said its sunscreen labels may need reviewing.
Studies show that 85 per cent of Australians don’t know how to apply sunscreen properly. “SPF 50+ can lull people into a false sense of security,” says Tom Godfrey, spokesman for consumer advocacy group Choice.
Some slather it on and think they can go out during the hottest part of the day, but the truth is an SPF 50+ is only marginally stronger than an SPF 30+. The best strategy is to cover up and reapply frequently, especially after swimming or using a towel to dry.
The recommended amount of sunscreen is 1 teaspoon for each limb, 1 teaspoon each for the front and back of the torso, and another teaspoon for the face, neck and ears.
Roll-ons or sprays have been criticised for not delivering enough sunscreen onto the skin. Aerosol sunscreens contain propellant so you need to apply more product to ensure you’re getting the necessary coverage. One way to get around this is to spray the product into your hand, then rub it on.
Moisturisers and cosmetics which boast SPF protection are helpful, but shouldn’t be relied on, as you’re unlikely to reapply them through the day.
Sun-safe arsenal
Sunscreen is not a suit of armour and for this reason experts say it should only be one part of your sunprotection strategy.
Choice put six SPF 50+ sunscreen products under the microscope in 2015 and found not all were as good as they claimed to be. Tests found only two had an SPF of 60 or more, which is the level required for a product to make a claim of SPF 50+.
Most of the tested sunscreen manufacturers disputed Choice’s results, producing certificates that showed their product met its claimed SPF. Choice agreed that tests world-wide had shown inconsistent results. Yet the varied test findings highlight why sunscreen should be used in combination with a wide-brimmed hat, protective clothing, sunglasses and minimum sun exposure.
The latest round of burns and rashes is troubling, experts agree, but it would be more worrying if people lost faith in sunscreen. Despite the concerns, the bottom line is that Cancer Council sunscreen is safe and effective for the majority of users, if applied correctly.