Sun safety

Introduction

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Queensland.¹ A recent study estimated 63% of melanomas and virtually all keratinocyte cancers could be attributed to UV exposure from the sun in Australia.² While other related causes include genetic factors and, for some specific types, an infectious disease component, high UV exposure at all ages is associated with increased skin cancer risk. Sunburn during childhood, frequent sunburn and sunburn that blisters the skin can all increase susceptibility to future UV-related carcinogenesis.^3–7

UV exposure from the sun contributes to melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer morbidity and mortality, and to health care expenditure:

• In 2024, exposure to the sun accounted for 0.5% of the total burden of disease (DALY).
• Considered individually, the highest proportions of disease-specific burden attributable to UV exposure from the sun were for non-melanoma skin cancer (99.4% of non-melanoma skin cancer burden), followed by melanoma of the skin (63.3%).⁸
• In 2015–16, non-melanoma skin cancer accounted for 11.9% ($1.0 billion) of the health expenditure for cancer and other neoplasms, the second largest percentage after the aggregate “other benign, in-situ and uncertain neoplasms” category, while melanoma accounted for 1.9% ($163 million) of the health expenditure for that disease group.⁹

Latest results

Adults

Sunburn

In 2024, almost half of adult Queenslanders (44.6%) reported being sunburnt in the previous 12 months with 5.4% having a sunburn that blistered. Of those who had been sunburnt (Figure 1):

• 24.4% had been sunburnt once
• 24.1% had been sunburnt twice
• 51.6% had been sunburnt three or more times.

Comparing adult Queenslanders across sociodemographic groups showed sunburn in the previous 12 months was (Figure 1):

• 20.8% more likely among males than females (48.9% and 40.5%, respectively)
• 5.3 times more likely among adults 18 to 29 years than adults 65 years or older
• 18.1% more likely among adults living in the most advantaged areas than adults living in the most disadvantaged areas.

The proportion of Queensland adults sunburnt in the past 12 months was similar across remoteness areas.¹⁰

Figure 1: Queensland adult sunburnt in the past year and sun safe behaviour, 2024

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Sun safe behaviours

Sun safe behaviours include wearing broad brimmed or bucket hats, clothing that protects against the sun (long sleeves or long pants), wrap-around sunglasses, seeking shade, and applying sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Queensland adults were asked how often they practised these behaviours ‘all or most of the time in summer’.

Of these five sun safe behaviours, among Queensland adults in 2024:

• 12.1% practised all five behaviours all or most of the time in summer
• 4.6% practised none of the behaviours all or most of the time in summer.

While all recommended sun safe behaviours are effective in preventing sunburns, some studies report that wearing sun safe clothing and hats that protect from the sun and seeking shade are most effective in real life situations.^11–13

Among Queensland adults in 2024 (Figure 1):

• 12.6% practised none of these three sun safe behaviours all or most of the time in summer
• 32.8% practised one of these three behaviours
• 31.2% practised two of these three behaviours
• 23.4% practised three of these three behaviours.

Practising these three sun safe behaviours was more common among:

• older adults, with adults 65 or older 2.6 times more likely than adults 18 to 29 years
• those living in more remote areas, with residents of inner regional areas 39.9% more likely than residents of major cities.

Regular or annual skin checks by a medical professional are an important part of health care for people with a higher risk of skin cancer. Early detection is important, and Queenslanders are encouraged to get to know their own skin, check it regularly and have any new spots or moles or changes in existing spots or moles examined by a doctor. In 2024, the Queensland preventive health survey adult collected information about routine sunscreen use and skin checks by a medical doctor.

In 2024, among Queensland adults:

• 23.9% applied sunscreen as part of their daily routine
• 43.0% had their skin checked for skin cancer by a doctor.¹⁰

Children and youth

Sunburn

Based on parent reporting in 2024, 47.1% of Queensland children 5 to 17 years were sunburnt in the previous 12 months with 4.2% having a sunburn that blistered their skin.

Of the children who had been sunburnt in the previous 12 months (Figure 2):

• 31.5% were sunburnt once
• 32.5% were sunburnt twice
• 36.0% were sunburnt three or more times.

Comparing Queensland children 5 to 17 years across different sociodemographic groups showed sunburn in the previous 12 months was (Figure 2):

• 20.6% more likely among children 12 to 17 years than younger children 5 to 11 years (51.9% and 43.1%, respectively).
• 23.9% more likely among children living in more remote areas than children living in major cities.¹⁰

Figure 2: Queensland children sunburnt in the past year and sun safe behaviour, 2024

In 2020, the Queensland preventive health survey collected more detailed information about sunburn and sun safe practises among children (Figure 3).

This survey showed, for children who were sunburnt in the previous 12 months:

• 69% reported they were most recently sunburnt during a water-based activity
• 55% reported they were sunburnt on the face or head
• 47% of parents reported that one of the reasons for their child’s sunburn was “not reapplying sunscreen”.

Figure 3: Characteristics of sunburn and sun safety of Queensland children, 2020

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Trends

Declines in sunburn have been shown both nationally and in other Australian jurisdictions.^16,17 In Queensland, there is emerging evidence that the proportion of adults sunburnt in the past 12 months may be decreasing. While additional data are needed, a decrease of 11.2% in the proportion of adult Queenslanders sunburnt in the previous 12 months from 2010 to 2024 was observed (Figure 4). This was similar across sex, age, and remoteness areas, while there is early evidence that trends differed by socioeconomic group. The proportion of Queensland adults sunburnt in the past 12 months:

• decreased by 9.9% in the most advantaged group
• decreased by 19.4% in the most disadvantaged group.

Over the shorter period from 2018 to 2024, the proportion of Queensland children 5 to 17 years who were sunburnt in the past 12 months was stable. This was similar across sex, age, socioeconomic groups, and remoteness areas.¹⁰

Figure 4: Trends in sunburns in Queensland

Additional information

Data and statistics

Summary results from the Queensland preventive health survey (QPHS) for Hospital and Health Services and other regions can be found within this report and more detailed and historical results can be accessed at Preventive health surveys.

Strategies and Information

Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre’s Position statement: Balancing the harms and benefits of sun exposure.

For information about sun protection and advice on reducing ultraviolet radiation exposure see:

• Cancer Council Australia—Sun safety
• Cancer Council Queensland—Sun protection.

Section technical notes

Counts of people by modifiable risk factors are estimated by applying the indicator proportion to the relevant estimated resident population (ERP). More information about ERP is available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics National, state and territory population.

Where presented, ratios were calculated using higher precision estimates than in text. Ratios calculated using estimates in text may differ.

Data for this section were sourced from:

• Queensland preventive health survey (QPHS) (See Preventive health surveys for further information).
• ABS Sun protection behaviours survey (See Sun protection behaviours).

Figures on this page are interactive

To learn more about how to navigate interactive figures, dashboards, and visualisations see About this Report.

References

1. Perera E, Gnaneswaran N, Staines C, et al. 2015. Incidence and prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia: a systematic review., Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 56:258–267.
2. Olsen CM, Wilson LF, Green AC, et al. 2015. Cancers in Australia attributable to exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and prevented by regular sunscreen use, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(5):471–476, doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12470.
3. Whiteman DC, Whiteman CA and Green AC. 2001. Childhood sun exposure as a risk factor for melanoma: a systematic review of epidemiologic studies, Cancer Causes Control, 12(1):69–82.
4. Dennis LK, Vanbeek MJ, Freeman LE, et al. 2008. Sunburns and risk of cutaneous melanoma: does age matter? A comprehensive meta-analysis, Annals of epidemiology, 18(8):614–627.
5. Backes C, Religi A, Moccozet L, et al. 2019. Sun exposure to the eyes: predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses, Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 29(6):753–764.
6. Wu S, Han J, Laden F, et al. 2014. Long-term Ultraviolet Flux, Other Potential Risk Factors, and Skin Cancer Risk: A Cohort Study, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 23(6):1080–1089, doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0821.
7. Cust AE, Jenkins MA, Goumas C, et al. 2011. Early-life sun exposure and risk of melanoma before age 40 years, Cancer Causes Control, 22(6):885–897.
8. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2024. Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/australian-burden-of-disease-study-2024/contents/about, accessed 12 December 2024.
9. Phillips A. 2021. Health system expenditure on cancer and other neoplasms in Australia, 2015-16, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, ACT.
10. Queensland Health. 2024. Queensland preventive health survey, https://www.health.qld.gov.au/research-reports/population-health/preventive-health-surveys/about, accessed 7 November 2024.
11. Berry EG, Bezecny J, Acton M, et al. 2022. Slip versus Slop: A Head-to-Head Comparison of UV-Protective Clothing to Sunscreen, Cancers, 14(3):542, doi:10.3390/cancers14030542.
12. Linos E, Keiser E, Fu T, et al. 2011. Hat, shade, long sleeves, or sunscreen? Rethinking US sun protection messages based on their relative effectiveness, Cancer Causes & Control, 22(7):1067–1071, doi:10.1007/s10552-011-9780-1.
13. Patel SP and Chien AL. 2021. Sun Protective Clothing and Sun Avoidance: The Most Critical Components of Photoprotection in Patients With Melanoma, Dermatologic Surgery, 47(3):333–337, doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002794.
14. Whiteman DC, Neale RE, Aitken J, et al. 2019. When to apply sunscreen: a consensus statement for Australia and New Zealand, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(2):171–175, doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12873.
15. Watts CG, Drummond M, Goumas C, et al. 2018. Sunscreen Use and Melanoma Risk Among Young Australian Adults, JAMA Dermatology, 154(9):1001, doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1774.
16. Makin JK, Warne CD, Dobbinson SJ, et al. 2013. Population and age-group trends in weekend sun protection and sunburn over two decades of the SunSmart programme in Melbourne, Australia: Population and subgroup trends in sun protection and sunburn, British Journal of Dermatology, 168(1):154–161, doi:10.1111/bjd.12082.
17. Volkov A, Dobbinson S, Wakefield M, et al. 2013. Seven‐year trends in sun protection and sunburn among Australian adolescents and adults, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(1):63–69, doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12012.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2024. Sun protection behaviours, ABS (nov-2023-to-feb-2024), https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/sun-protection-behaviours/latest-release., accessed 23 October 2024.