The head of Australia’s Cancer Council — which generates its revenues directly from the sale of chemical sunscreens — has been slammed by Aussie readers in Australia’s “Conversation” web site after he penned a column entitled, “Monday’s medical myth: we’re not getting enough sun.”

Ian Olver, an oncology professor who leads the Cancer Council, wrote, “During summer, most of us get adequate vitamin D from just a few minutes of daily sun exposure” and used the word “myth” to refute the assertions that “We hear that sun-protection has triggered an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency; being tanned protects you from sunburn; a tan looks healthy.”

Olver defends Australia’s “Slip, Slop and Slap” sun protection program — which has come under fire recently for encouraging over-use of sunscreen, which causes vitamin D deficiency.

“That’s why it’s important to slip (on a shirt), slop (on some sunscreen), slap (on a hat), seek (shade) and slide (on your sunglasses), knowing you’ll be reducing your skin cancer risk while in most cases still getting enough incidental sunlight for good health,” Olver wrote.

Based on comments on the web site, readers understand that it’s Olver’s job to sell sunscreens moreso than to balance sun care against vitamin D deficiency concerns.

Sue Ieraci, a public hospital clinician, wrote, “The problem seems to be our societal habit of taking very specific research findings and taking them both in isolation, and to the extreme. Sunburn causes skin cancer, so we ban children from playing outside without hat and sunscreen. No sun is bad, so we recommend supplemental Vitamin D. Someone says excess carbohydrates are bad, so we cut out all ‘carbs’. Someone notes we eat too many “empty calories” — then sugar becomes ‘a toxin’. In each case, it is the excess that harms. There are a multitude of intricately entwined factors that affect our health and longevity. The only rational approach is balance.”

Elizabeth Merrilees, an Australian clinician, wrote, “Thank goodness there are well informed readers here willing to counter the ill informed writings of an oncologist! Clearly Ian Olver and the Cancer Council are just rabbiting on in ignorance.”

To read the article and responses in The Conversation click here.

SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can’t say in your tanning salon business.

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