Skin cancer advice ‘too extreme’

8:12am Friday 4th May 2007

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Advice to sun seekers saying they should wear denim, polyester or wool to protect against harmful rays has been dubbed "extreme" by an Oxford skin cancer expert.

Dermatologist Dr Robert Turner, of the Churchill Hospital, Headington, said the new guidance from researchers in Switzerland could push people to do just the opposite.

‘Our advice is to stay in the UK for the summer if you can’

Dr Robert Turner

Yesterday, skin specialist Dr Stephan Lautenschlager suggested that wearing thick materials was the best way to keep out the sun, which can lead cancers like melanoma.

He said people should cover-up to protect themselves instead of putting on sunscreens.

But Dr Turner, who treats 1,400 Oxfordshire patients every year for skin cancer, said: "This is a bit extreme. I just don't think this is practical. People will think it's ridiculous and just go out anyway. If you advise people to do something that is extreme, they're more likely to go the other way completely."

Every year in Oxfordshire, about 200 people are treated for melanoma, a cancer effecting pigmentation cells, and 200 people are treated for Squamous cell cancer, which effects the top layer of the skin.

Another 1,000 patients are treated for basal cell cancer, which affects the deepest layer of the skin.

However, Dr Turner agreed that clothing was better protection than sunscreen - especially for children, who were better shielded from the sun by sunsuits than by lotions.

He added that staying out of the sun completely during the middle of the day was the best safeguard.

Dr Turner added: "Our advice is to stay in the UK for the summer if you can and don't deliberately sunbathe between 11am and 3pm."

He added: "There have been studies looking at fabrics and, basically, if you hold a material to the light and it doesn't shine through, then it's a good one to use." He also warned that sunscreen should only be used as a last resort, if people had to go out in the sun with bare skin.

He explained: "Everyone under-treats themselves with sun cream. People don't use enough or repeat-apply enough. Our recommendation is that you should apply it liberally and after bathing."

Oxford City Council's outdoor swimming pool, Hinksey Pool, opens on Monday for the summer, and to mark the occasion the council has waived admission charges between 10am-7pm for the day. Oxford Bus Company will be operating a park and ride service from Redbridge to Lake Street. The service will run from 10am to 3.30pm during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday over the summer.