Shedding light on sunscreen use
CMAJ 1997;157:1513
Re: "A place in the shade: reducing the risks of UV exposure" (CMAJ 1997;157[2]:175-6 [full text / texte complet]), Drs. Konia J. Trouton and Christina J. Mills
In response to: B.W. Gregory
Our article was based on a consensus statement arising from a symposium;1 the expert panel for that symposium included 4 dermatologists.
At the request of the CMAJ editors, we included some information from the Sun Awareness Program of the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) on issues that were not addressed in detail by the symposium. This material included the statement about sunscreens preventing sunburn but not other UVR damage, as well as the advice to delay exposure until 15 to 30 minutes after sunscreen application and to reapply every 2 hours. The source, cited in our article, was the CDA's 1997 publication Sun Facts.2
The cost of more frequent application is certainly a possible deterrent to the use of sunscreens, but that needs to be weighed against the dangers of giving a false sense of safety if sunscreens are applied in insufficient quantities for true effectiveness. The symposium report suggested that the public "should be informed that current SPF labelling on sunscreens may overstate effectiveness because individuals often use sunscreen more sparingly than the applications used in the determining of SPF values."1
Finally, clarification is also in order concerning the recommendation that physical barriers are preferable to chemical ones for infants. The intended meaning of the word "physical" was the common one (i.e., shade, clothing and hats), not the one that might be used by a chemist. We agree with Dr. Gregory's comment that physical barriers and sunscreen are best used in combination, and that point is reflected in our statement that sunscreens are only 1 component of effective sun protection.
Christina J. Mills, MD
Cancer Bureau
Laboratory Centre for Disease Control
Ottawa, Ont.
References
- Mills CJ, Trouton KJ, Gibbons L. Symposium report: Second Symposium on Ultraviolet Radiation-Related Diseases. Chronic Dis Can 1997;18(1):27-38.
- Canadian Dermatology Association. Sun Awareness Program 1997 public education materials. Ottawa: The Association; 1997.
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