Industry leaders and union representatives attend the Australian Sunscreen Council’s discussion on SPF testing and sunscreen ingredient safety, led by Dr Yousuf Mohammed and Dr Rocky Chowdhury.

New evidence links chemical UV filters in sunscreens to breast cancer risks. The ASC urges Australians to prioritise physical protection and mineral sunscreens.

For decades, Australians have been told that “the benefits of sunscreen outweigh the risks.” But this slogan hides important truths: not all sunscreens are equal, some UV filters have unresolved safety concerns, and real-world evidence shows sunscreen use alone has not reliably reduced melanoma. This blog explains what the science actually tells us, and why physical protection and mineral sunscreens are the clearest net-benefit strategies.

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world — yet skin cancer rates continue to rise despite decades of sunscreen promotion. Recent research, including a major McGill University study, found that sunscreen users were nearly twice as likely to report a history of skin cancer. This “sunscreen paradox” arises because most sunscreens are UVB-biased, block burning but not deeper-penetrating UVA, and even contain anti-inflammatory agents that mask redness.