Sunscreen isn't the only preventive measure sun-sensitive people should use

If you're one of those people who have skin that's extra sensitive to the sun, you need to be using a lot more protective measures than just applying sunscreen. At least one in five people are diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. “Most of these cases are caused by excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation and could be avoided through adequate sun-protective behaviours,” said the lead researcher.



“The most surprising and counterintuitive finding was that regular sunscreen use, in the absence of other protective behaviours, was associated with the highest likelihood of sunburn,” he continued. “This study underscores recommendations that sunscreen should not be used in isolation,” he added. “Clearly, we need to go back to square one to educate people about using enough sunscreen so all parts of the body exposed to the sun are covered and reapplied frequently enough,” he said.



“It’s good to see that shading has become the main form of sun protection as it’s free, inexpensive and feels better than being outside in the broiling sun,” he said. “We need to create more shade structures at schools and parks, where we can have more control over the physical environment than we would at places like beaches and lakes. One cannot change their skin type or their family history, but we can work vigilantly for ourselves and our kids to prevent sunburns, which have a negative effect on our DNA,” he concluded.