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“He was left unprotected when he most needed robust defense,” she shared with SBS News.
Cancer patient Chris experienced “horror and fear” upon discovering that the sunscreen he relied on had been pulled from store shelves, following tests showing SPF levels as low as 4.
“Chris’s cancer specialists have confirmed that his skin remains highly susceptible and won’t fully recover for approximately three years post-radiotherapy—making this the worst conceivable moment for him to lack protection,” she explained.
“They’ve always been regarded as the gold standard, but this ordeal has completely altered my perception,” she added.
TGA regulations ‘potentially outdated’
At the time of writing, 21 sunscreens have been either recalled or had sales paused in Australia, all of which are linked to a manufacturer called Wild Child Laboratories in Perth.
Over 20 sunscreens have been either recalled or had sales paused in Australia, all of which are linked to a manufacturer called Wild Child Laboratories in Perth. Source: SBS News
There’s a reason why so many sunscreens have been caught up in so-called Sunscreen Gate.
“Most Australians don’t realise that all these brands we’re buying, they’re not making their own sunscreen, they’re actually just buying in a base,” she says.
Dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald isn’t surprised by Choice’s findings. She says they’re a sign that Australia’s regulatory standards might not be the “gold standard”. Source: Supplied / Dr Cara McDonald
How SPF ratings are given
While the TGA mandates both UVA and UVB testing, McDonald says there is “ongoing work” to develop UVB testing methods in labs, thereby increasing the accuracy of results. But it’s still not mandated.
“This is where it’s completely just ripped the floor out from underneath that.”
After over 20 sunscreens were pulled from shelves, those in high-risk communities have been left with “sunscreen anxiety”, not knowing what products to trust. Source: Getty / Gallo Images
‘I had full faith’
Like Holt’s husband, she was also using Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen.
It does make me feel quite anxious thinking about those two years I’ve used that sunscreen — and what the outcome of that will be for me.
Jess
Several brands flagged in the study — including Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, and Cancer Council — said they retested their sunscreens following the investigation and found they matched the SPF 50+ claims.
“There’s a long list of SPFs from different companies that were not meeting the threshold and I’m seeing less criticism of them,” she says.
‘We don’t need to panic’
So even if a sunscreen product has scored lower than its advertised rating claims, chances are customers are still getting pretty good coverage if they apply and reapply often, McDonald says.
The difference in the amount of sun protection between an SPF of 25, 30 and 50 is relatively small.
Therapeutic Goods Administration
“[We] may end up more likely to get burnt and more likely to get UVA damage, which is going to cause pigmentation, ageing, inflammation and increase our risk of skin cancer without burning us.”
Australian lupus community ‘beyond anxious’
According to the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center in the US, sun exposure can cause sunburn-like reactions, skin rashes, and flares in other parts of the body. Lupus also increases the risk of skin cancer from UV radiation.
Angie Knaggs says she and the lupus community are “beyond anxious” about the recalls and left wondering whether their sun protection has been adequate. Source: Supplied / Dr Angie Knaggs
Additionally, many medications that treat lupus can cause additional sun sensitivity, Knaggs says. This means that skin checks every six months, wearing Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF) clothing, and carrying an umbrella on sunny days are all pretty standard fare.
“The entire community is beyond anxious — most are heading in for deep skin cancer checks and are left wondering what long-term damage these products have actually caused us,” Knaggs says.
I’m extremely anxious about what this has caused long-term to my organs.
Dr Angie Knaggs
“This is not a recall; this is a proactive step that we have taken in partnership with Naked Sundays,” the statement read.
Physical sunscreens scored worst, but only option for some
The TGA says that alterations to the base formulation “could increase or decrease the SPF of a sunscreen”.
Overall, physical sunscreens performed more poorly in Choice’s investigation of the SPF rating of 20 popular products. Source: SBS News
But for some consumers, physical sunscreens are the only option they have.
“Right now, I don’t trust the sunscreen in Australia.”
A ‘wake-up call’ to the TGA
“Australia has a very high rate of skin cancer and people need to be able to rely on the sunscreen products that they use to help protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun.”
It’s understandably worrying to people who have been using these sunscreens.
Professor Mark Morgan, Bond University
“Consumers can tell if sunscreens are included in the ARTG by looking for the ‘AUST L’ number on the product’s label.”
“People saw that as the epitome of sunscreen. It’s the Cancer Council — their job is to protect us from cancer,” McDonald says.
One of the things I’ve heard most is the concern regarding the Cancer Council sunscreens and people feeling so let down and disappointed by their results.
Dr Cara McDonald
