Denmark issues new sun protection guidelines
With spring on the way and sunny weather forecast this week, the Danish health authorities have advised stronger protection against harmful rays in the Nordic country.
The Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) now recommends sun protection no lower than factor 30 when out in the sun in Denmark, it said in new guidelines issued on Monday.
The health authority also recommended the use of sun hats and advised against solarium or tanning bed use at any time.
Skin cancer melanomas affect 20,000 people in Denmark annually, with nine in ten cases preventable with proper sun protection, it said in a press statement.
Sun cream used in Denmark should therefore have a factor of at least 30, it said.
The recommendations come from the Solgruppen or ‘Sun Group’ of stakeholders which includes the Danish Dermatological Society (Dansk Dermatologisk Selskab), Danish Meteorological Institute, Danish Cancer Society (Kræftens Bekæmpelse), Danish Safety Technology Authority, the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, Danish Research Center for Skin Cancer (Videncenter for Hudkræft), and Danish Health Authority.
“We now recommend, like most other countries in Europe, that you use sun screen of at least factor 30, whether you are in Denmark or further south,” Kresten Breddam, head of department at the Danish Health Authority, said in the statement.
“We are also continuing our strong advice to remember the other sun recommendations: stay in the shade, especially between noon and 3pm. Use a hat, sunglasses and loose clothing when you are in the sun,” he added.
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A Danish Cancer Society study recently found that 14 percent of 15-25 year-olds have used a solarium within the last year. That has led the group to intensify its advice on the use of tanning beds, particularly with regard to younger people.
“Even though we know the solarium has become more popular among young people, we want fewer people to use them because the risk of skin cancer or melanoma later in life is higher, the younger you are when you begin using sun beds,” Breddam said.
Denmark currently has the second-highest incidence per capita of melanoma in the world, behind only Australia, which receives a much higher amount of sunshine.
You can read the new recommendations in more detail here.
