Australians love a day in the sun.
But we also have one of the highest rates of skin cancer and one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world.
That’s seen cancer researchers get together and produce new sun safety advice that better reflects people with darker skin tones.
The research informing the guidelines — based on evolving evidence about the risks and benefits of sun exposure for all skin types — was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Tuesday.
Cancer experts got together after a summit in 2021 and produced a new position statement on the balancing of sun exposure risks and benefits for all Australian adults.
The new advice — backed by the likes of Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists — assigns people into three broad groups, each with different risks and benefits when it comes to sun exposure.
Deeply pigmented brown to black skin
This is the group the guidelines say has the lowest risk of skin cancer from sun exposure.
They’re thought to be at low risk of skin cancer, but at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, because they require longer periods of sun exposure to get adequate amounts.
The guidelines say they can safely spend time outdoors and routine sun protection is not needed unless they are in it for extended periods.
For this group, the guidelines say the risks of sun exposure likely outweigh the benefits.
These people have very pale skin that burns easily and risk factors such as personal or family history of skin cancer, are immunosuppressed, or have lots of moles or moles that are large or atypical.
This cohort has the very highest risk of skin cancer and the guidelines advise them to protect themselves from the sun at all times, and discuss vitamin D requirements with their doctor.
Other skin tones and those with no risk factors
This is the intermediate group, where the advice sits somewhere in the middle of the other two.
The guidelines say people in this cohort are at intermediate risk of skin cancer, for whom the risk versus benefit equation is less straightforward. They’re likely to have olive or pale brown skin and no other risk factors.
For this group, sun protection remains very important but they can spend some time outdoors.
The amount of time needed outside for the benefits of vitamin D depends on where they live, the time of day, the time of year, and how much skin is not covered by clothing while outdoors.
Researchers hope the new guidelines can begin informing clinical care and support the delivery of personalised advice.
Professor Neale said while the updated advice is more complex than previous guidance, preventing skin cancer remains the overall priority.
Why has the guidance been updated?
A number of reasons.
There is growing research about the benefits of sun exposure in addition to vitamin D production.
Vitamin D plays a critical role in calcium absorption and is necessary for musculoskeletal health, however deficiency is common in Australia.
“Vitamin D … also appears to be important for a range of other diseases, particularly those related to the immune system, such as infectious disease and autoimmune disease,” Professor Neale said.
“So it’s a good idea not to be vitamin D deficient. Obviously, we can achieve that through some safe, sensible sun exposure, or we can take a supplement.”
(ABC)
Lead researcher Rachel Neale, from research institute QIMR Berghofer, said while there were some health benefits from sun exposure, it’s the main cause of skin cancer which has “a terrible impact on so many lives”.
“We’re really trying to get the balance right so we can reduce the risk of skin cancer but also enable people to get the benefits of sun exposure,” she said.
