Sunday, February 1, 2004
Stop Telling People To Avoid Sun - Say Cancer Experts
Source: Medical News Today

A reversal of official advice on the dangers of the sun was called for yesterday in what could lead to one of the biggest revisions of a health warning in decades.

The head of Britain's drive to cut soaring skin cancer rates said the advice to restrict sunbathing is 'draconian and unnecessary' and should be lifted.

For at least a decade, doctors have warned sunbathers that 'there is no such thing as a healthy tan'. Now, Dr Neil Walker, chairman of the UK Skin Cancer Prevention Working Party, an umbrella group of more than a dozen professional organisations, says the warning is counter-productive.

'The phrase 'no such thing as a healthy tan' is one way of getting the message across that sun damage can lead to the development of potentially fatal skin cancers. I think we need to look at this again. I think telling people to avoid the sun entirely is draconian and unnecessary.'

Read the entire article.
Back to articles