Sun safety myths and facts
Myth: Sunscreen provides enough sun protection
Fact: Sunscreen doesn’t provide enough sun protection for your skin.
It’s important to use sunscreen (ideally SPF50+) because it filters ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and protects you from reflected UVR from surfaces like water, sand and concrete.
However, sunscreen is not a suit of armour. It wears off and needs to be reapplied regularly—particularly after swimming or excessive sweating, or at least every 2 hours.
To give yourself the best protection from the sun, it’s best to also use shade, clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Myth: Skin cancer is a less serious form of cancer because it can easily be cut out
Fact: Skin cancer is very serious and treatment isn’t always as easy as removing a mole.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It can travel to other parts of your body, making it difficult to treat.
Know your skin, check it regularly and talk to your doctor about any concerns.
Myth: Skin cancer only affects fair-skinned people
Fact: Skin cancer affects people with all skin types. Did you know Bob Marley (the singer) died from an untreated melanoma that spread to his brain?
Skin cancer is less common in people with darker skin, but it's often found at more advanced stages.
Myth: Skin cancer only happens to older people
Fact: Skin cancer happens to young people too. In 2007, 33% of Queenslanders aged 15–24 who were diagnosed with cancer, had melanoma. In 2009, melanoma was the leading cause of new cancers diagnosed in young people aged 15-34 years in Queensland.
Myth: Skin cancer is caused by sunburn
Fact: This is not always the case. Skin cancer normally occurs when too much UVR exposure causes skin cell damage.
We’re exposed to UVR every time we go outdoors, and even short sun exposure adds up over time to skin damage.
Sunburn increases your risk even more because the cell damage is more severe.
Myth: You only need sun protection on hot, sunny days
Fact: You need sun protection every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, cloudy, or raining—UVR is always there during daylight. So in Queensland you need to use the 5 sun protection methods every day.
Myth: You only need sun protection between 10am and 2pm
Fact: You need to protect your skin at all times of the day. In Queensland, UVR can reach harmful levels as early as 7am.
Protect yourself in 5 ways whenever the ultraviolet index is 3 or above.
Myth: Tanning lotions and sprays protect your skin from UVR
Fact: Fake tanning lotions and spray tans don’t protect your skin from UVR because they do not contain sun protection factor (SPF).
If you have a fake tan, you still need to use sun protection.
Myth: Using a sun bed is safer than tanning in the sun
Fact: Sun beds are not a safe way to tan (health/staying-healthy/environmental/sun/tanning) as they can be more dangerous than a suntan.
Sun beds release UVR just like the sun. The levels of UVR from sun beds can be up to 3 times stronger than the midday summer sun.
Myth: You need sun exposure for vitamin D
Fact: It’s unsafe to seek extra sun to top-up vitamin D levels. Most people get enough UV exposure to maintain vitamin D levels through their usual outdoor activities.
Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your vitamin D level.
