There has been a discussion on (social) media about using sunscreen: Sunscreen, however, remains of great importance in protecting against the risk of skin cancer, says Brigitte Boonen, UV expert at the Foundation against Cancer.
The sun can have harmful effects. We endure more and more sun damage. On the one hand, this has to do with the increased solar power (and number of hours of sunshine), but on the other hand it also has to do with our behavior. For example, we go on vacation several times a year. The sun damage accumulates and increases the risk of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world and in Belgium. More than 46,000 new cases are added every year. However, we note that last year almost 80% of adult Belgians were sunburned and a quarter of children. So a lot of damage. You can limit that damage with sun protection, with clothes and greasing.
Prevention is always better than cure. Prevention is the only strategy that can reduce the rate at which new cancers develop and is the most cost-effective.
Does sunscreen really protect against skin cancer?
Meanwhile, a trend has emerged to completely forgo sunscreen on social media. The Foundation against Cancer finds this very worrying.
Self-proclaimed experts, including MPs, unhampered by any knowledge and in-depth insights, catapult us back to times when our knowledge of UV radiation and sun damage was still insufficient. This will increase the number of skin cancers even faster.
Do the self-proclaimed experts have a point?
The Foundation against Cancer does not deny that in addition to the positive effect of sunscreen on the
prevention of skin cancer are also possible disadvantages such as allergic reactions, presence of
endocrine disruptors and potential environmental impacts.
Of course we have to monitor and follow this up. Just like we need to check that what’s on the packaging of sunscreens is actually correct and take them off the market if necessary. But we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. It’s not because sunscreens are not always applied properly or because there are creams on the market that don’t comply with the law that we should ban them completely.
Not greasing is more dangerous than greasing
Of course we want people to exercise outside, meet with friends, garden… Foundation
against Cancer just wants to encourage everyone to do this as safely as possible so we don’t get them later
view in healthcare.
We can also imagine that this whole discussion is hurtful to the 300,000 patients currently walking around. The message is to find a good balance between exposure to and protection from the sun.
More info: https://uvindex.be/nl