News
British Association of Dermatologist response to NICE guideline on Sunlight Exposure:
19th February 2016
British Association of Dermatologist response to NICE guideline on Sunlight Exposure:
Benefits and Risks
The British Association of Dermatologist agrees with the report’s statement that there is no such thing as a safe tan, as a tan is a sign of sun damage. Contrary to the report, we recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, rather than 15, as most people don't apply sunscreen thickly enough and using a higher SPF may help to increase your protection.
However, protective clothing and seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day are still the first line of defence. In terms of acquiring vitamin D from the sun, we are of the position that for light skinned people who are at the highest risk of sunburn and skin cancer, the evidence of risks of sun exposure outweigh the evidence of benefits.
There are other ways to get vitamin D that don't put you at risk of potentially deadly skin cancer, such as through diet and the use of supplements, and you don't need to sunbathe or sunburn for your health.
We are certainly not telling people to stay out of the sun, but be sensible: know your skin type, take precautions to protect your skin when it's sunny, and don't let your skin burn.