Most of us base our sunscreen choice on the sun protection factor and opt for the highest, but new warnings indicate that could be more harmful than helpful.

Peter Taubert is a lecturer and author on dangerous chemicals. He said over time, chemicals found in sunscreen may also cause dermatitis, endometriosis and early puberty in young children.

"We need to be concerned, we need to look at every product and say what is in it and what do these chemicals do?"

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Peter said the chemicals used in most sunscreen lotions or sunscreen products are actually known to cause cancer.

"Now that's when they're in their pure form but we really don't know what they do when we start to mix three or four or five or seven," he said.

Peter Taubert warns against these chemicals
Benzolalcohol, BHA {Butylatedhydroxyanisole}, Butyl {methoxydibenzoylemethane}, Diazolodinyl Urea, Dimethicone, Diasodium edta, Ethanol, Homosalate, hydroxybenzoates {parabens}, Methylisothiazolinone, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Octorcrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine.

The Cancer Council's Professor Brenda Wilson assures us sunscreens in Australia are rigorously tested and are safe.

"There's no evidence to suggest that sunscreens cause cancer," Professor Wilson said.

"There's a lot of evidence to suggest that if sunscreen, which is one-of-five ways in which people should protect themselves from the sun, is used, then you can protect yourself from melanoma."

Five ways to protect

• Cover up
• Use SPF 30+ sunscreen
• Wear a hat
• Seek shade
• Put on sunglasses

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. More than 430,000 Australians are treated each year for skin cancers, according to the Cancer Council.

Of these, over 10,500 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed.

Each year there are around 1600 deaths from melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

Dr Natasha Cook said choose a cream that contains zinc or titanium or both, to prevent problems.

"Not only with cancer but pigmentation, broken capillaries and that sallow, chicken-skin appearance which is very hard to rectify once it comes so you need to prevent it," she said.

Sunscreen tips

For very young to the elderly, her four top body sunscreens for everyday, are 30+ broad spectrum and water-resistant: Ego Sun Sense Sport Milk, UV Triplegard Everyday Lotion, Priceline Sun Sport and the Cancer Council's Classic Sunscreen.

For your face, Natasha's top three sunscreens that will not block pores are: Shiseido Gentle Sun Protection Lotion, Invisible Zinc New Generation Suncare by Ganehill and Hamilton Everyday Face light moisturising Cream.

"If you don't put enough on of your sunscreen, your protection will go from 30+ down to something like a six," she said.

Peter Taubert's sunscreen recommendations are all with zinc: Invisible Zinc, Woolworths Select Clear Zinc, NI Natural Instinct.

Contact details

Dr Natasha Cook
139 Macquarie Street, Sydney.

(02) 9247 2887

For more on Peter Taubert, visit proactivehealth.net.au .

Cancer Council

Phone 13 11 20 or visit www.cancer.org.au.

SunSmart UV Alert

It tells you the time period in which you need to be SunSmart. It appears on the weather page of most daily newspapers and on the Bureau of Meteorology website here.

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