Australian dermatologists are urging people to continue wearing sunscreen as usual despite a US study finding the active ingredients in several popular sunscreens are making their way into the bloodstream at high levels.
"This is a small and preliminary study, involving 24 people, used to inform the design of future clinical trials investigating sunscreen systemic absorption," he said. "The study used very large amounts of sunscreen applied to 75 per cent of the whole body four times a day for four days," he said. "The authors of the study themselves state that further studies are needed to determine what this preliminary finding means in the health of Australians who rely on sunscreen as an effective way of protecting against the sun."
"The study findings raise many important questions about sunscreen and the process by which the sunscreen industry, clinicians, specialty organisations, and regulatory agencies evaluate the benefits and risks of this topical over-the-counter medication."
Meanwhile cancer rates are increasing.