Peak Industry Body for Australian Sunscreen

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.

For decades, Australians have been told to avoid the sun at all costs — but new global research suggests that message may no longer fit the science. Epidemiological studies from the UK and Sweden show that people who get more sunlight live longer, with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality.

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

Freedom of Information requests have revealed that 21 sunscreen active ingredients on Australia’s permissible list were never properly safety assessed by the TGA. Internal documents confirm only Zinc Oxide is considered safe, with Titanium Dioxide flagged for possible concerns. For decades, Australians have been applying sunscreens containing chemicals the regulator itself has never cleared for safety.

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.

Australian Sunscreen Council warns: products over 0.28% homosalate or 1.0% oxybenzone cannot be considered safe—stop use now.