Pharmacy Daily | Children’s sunscreen safe

THROWING its support behind the use of sunscreens for children, the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) has clarified many of the issues surrounding the recent controversy of complaints against the Cancer Council's Peppa Pig Kids Sunscreen (PD 06 Jan).

"Sunscreen use remains an important form of sun protection, along with protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses and, whenever possible, avoiding the sun during peak UV periods," ASMI said.

"A study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health estimated that, in 2010, average sunscreen use over previous decades in Australia had prevented 1,730 cases of melanoma and 14,190 squamous cell carcinomas."

The concerns relate to a child whose mother said on Facebook she spent three days in hospital with her three-month old baby who had a bad reaction to the sunscreen when applied to his face and body.

The post drew a few similar complaints to which the Cancer Council Australia has responded.

Cancer Council Australia ceo Professor Sanchia Aranda said that reported reactions to its SPF 50+ Kids sunscreen were being investigated and that Cancer Council's sunscreen range remained safe and effective for the vast majority of users.

Aranda said Cancer Council sunscreens were closely regulated by the Australian Government's Therapeutic Goods Administration to help ensure they met the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.

A Cancer Council spokesperson said, "Yesterday we were saddened to learn via Facebook that a young child had a negative experience with our SPF50+ Kids Sunscreen.

"We take any concern raised about our products very seriously and have been in direct contact with the boy's mother, Jessie, to investigate this further.

"Given the lifesaving benefits of sunscreen, we will continue to encourage its use while ensuring that any individual concerns about sunscreen use are promptly investigated."

ASMI says that the use of sunscreens should be avoided on babies under six months of age, should always be tested on a small patch of skin prior to wider use and label directions should be followed including the rate of re-application.