Skin cancer: The Irish Cancer Society is disputing the findings of a UK-based medical research charity, which state that sun creams fail to protect against premature aging and skin cancer.
The new research by the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (Raft) claims that sun creams said to contain UVA-protection do not protect skin sufficiently even when they are applied in the correct dosage.
Tests were carried out using sun creams said to have UVA protection, shown by a star rating, and high UVB protection.
The results showed that while the sun-protection factor (SPF) protected from UVB, which causes burning, the protection offered from UVA, which damages skin and may lead to skin aging and cancer, was much smaller.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland and around 5,700 new cases are diagnosed each year. According to the Irish Cancer Society, exposure to sunlight is thought to cause 80 to 90 per cent of cases.
"But the study doesn't specify how high an SPF they used in testing, and again when they say they used a sun cream with a high star rating for UVA protection, they don't state how many stars," says the Irish Cancer Society's cancer information services manager, Emer O'Kane. "We're not changing our advice and still advocate the use of sun cream."
However, consultant in dermatology Gillian Murphy says the results highlight what medical experts have known for years. "Consumers must check that sun cream has a high UVA-protection rating and not just a high SPF."