Factor 15 sunscreen ‘not sufficient’

RECENT guidelines advising people to use a minimum of factor 15 sunscreen are not in the interests of public health, experts have warned.

Last January, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published advice that stated: “When it is not possible to stay in the shade or wear protective clothing… people should be encouraged to wear a sunscreen with UVA and UVB (at least SPF 15) protection.”

However, experts of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin say that this factor is far too low.

“This advice holds if the sunscreen is applied as it is in laboratory tests which is two milligrams per square centimetre. If you were to apply it to your body at that amount of thickness, it would be very impractical,” said Ike Iheanacho, editor of the bulletin.

“It would slide off the body, it would be quite expensive, as well as the cosmetic issue of being covered in sunscreen. Research shows that people do not apply their sunscreen in this way, so their advice is impractical. Theoretically it’s fine but it bears no real relation to real life.”

He said it appeared NICE was alluding to applying it as they would in a laboratory.

“This doesn’t happen in a real life situation,” he said. “The practical thing is that people should use sunscreen with an SPF of 30. It is much more effective and would allow them to apply it closer to the way they would normally and still get protection.”

In response, NICE professor Mike Kelly said: “According to evidence presented to the committee, SPF 15 should be sufficient as long as it is applied adequately. However, the guidance also acknowledges that to take account of people not applying sufficient quantities of sunscreen, SPF 30 was also recommended in an expert paper.”

Sunscreens have an important role in protecting the skin against sun damage from UV radiation, however they do not provide complete protection. Sunscreen should be complemented with other measures such as reducing the amount of time spent in the sun or covering up with hats and clothing when exposed for a long period of time.

Sunscreen helps to reduce acute damage caused to the skin by too much sun exposure, for example reddening of the skin, or sunburn.

“There are good theoretical reasons to believe that some of those acute effects lead to certain types of skin cancer,” said Mr Iheanacho.

“With malignant melanoma, the most serious of skin cancers, evidence does not show that sunscreen can prevent it but in theory it seems reasonable to use sunscreen as it can only help.”