Skin specialists are urging people to heed the sun safety advice of experts, not ill-informed social media feeds that have the potential to harm vulnerable Queenslanders.

False claims perpetuated in posts and comments on social media include:

• Myth #1: It’s safe to not use sun protection outside
• Myth #2: Darker skin does not burn
• Myth #3: A tan prevents sunburn or people who tan easily do not get skin cancer
• Myth #4: Chemicals from sunscreen are more dangerous than UV rays
• Myth #5: Sun protection causes Vitamin D deficiencies
• Myth #6: Sunscreen causes cancer
• Myth #7: You don’t need sunscreen when it’s overcast
• Myth #8: Sunscreen causes coral bleaching.

Dermatologists like Associate Professor Erin McMeniman say false claims about sunscreen have no place in a state like Queensland, which has the highest rate of melanoma in the world.

“There are a lot of myths about sunscreen being shared and some of them are dangerous,” said Assoc Prof McMeniman, who works at Princess Alexandra Hospital and UQ School of Medicine.

“A lot of them are being shared widely on social media and unfortunately, a lot of people seem to believe them. This is particularly the case when it’s a celebrity spreading the misinformation. It’s irresponsible because it can cause long-term harm to impressionable people who won’t question their qualifications, credibility or motives.

“We need to make it clear that sunscreen protects your skin from sun dangerous ultraviolent rays and can help prevent skin cancer, including life-threatening melanoma. That’s backed by science.

“We urge everyone to make applying sunscreen a part of their daily routine. Additionally, people can protect their skin by seeking shade, wearing sun-safe clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

“The lifetime risk for melanoma for Queenslanders is one in 15 – that’s approximately two children in every class at school.”

Queensland Health data shows more than 32,000 people are hospitalised in Queensland each year because of skin cancers, including 3,500 for melanoma.

Source
Queensland Health