Debunking five of the most widely talked about sunscreen myths

"I often get asked what the best sunscreen is to use and knowing all sunscreens in Australia meet our high regulatory standards, my advice is always to use the sunscreen you like, and to do your best to make it a regular habit," Cancer Council's Skin Cancer Prevention Manager, Liz King said.

"We know there are lots of common misconceptions when it comes to sunscreen, so we wanted to debunk five of the most common sunscreen myths that we hear and see."

1. Sunscreen alone is enough to protect me

Sunscreen is not a suit of armour. It is an important sun protection measure but should always be used with other sun protection measures: using shade and wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.

"Whether you use an SPF30 or SPF50+ comes down to personal choice but we always recommend SPF30 or above. An Australian study found that 80 per cent of people don't apply enough sunscreen when they use it, so for sunscreen to work you need to ensure you apply enough to provide good coverage on all exposed skin and reapply regularly," Ms King says.

2. My makeup has SPF, so I'm covered

Cosmetics which contain sunscreen are not considered to be a therapeutic product and are therefore not regulated in Australia. They vary in how much sun protection factor (SPF) protection they provide but it can often be very little, and therefore should not be relied on to protect your skin from the sun.

"Some people mistakenly believe an SPF20 moisturiser and an SPF10 foundation used together form a protection of SPF30. This is not true. You will only be protected to the level of the highest SPF product - in this case, SPF20 which is not high enough," Ms King said.

The Council Council recommend of you plan to wear sunscreen and moisturisers or cosmetics, it's best to apply your sunscreen first - on dry, clean skin. This will allow the sunscreen to disperse effectively. And just like sunscreen, the SPF in cosmetics reduces with time, so remember to reapply sunscreen when you are outdoors.

3. Natural sunscreens are better for me

Cancer Council does not recommend making or using homemade sunscreen. Instead, leave sunscreen manufacture to the experts so you know that what you're using is safe and effective. Recipes for homemade sunscreens are easily found and promoted online and these recipes frequently contain coconut or vegetable oils, essential oils, shea butter, beeswax and zinc and may market themselves as organic or natural.

4. It's cold or cloudy today, so I don't need it

A cool or overcast day in summer can have similar UV levels to a warm, sunny day. If it's windy and you get a red face, it's likely to be sunburn. There's no such thing as 'windburn'.

Sun damage is also possible on cloudy days, as UV radiation can penetrate some clouds, and may even be more intense due to reflection off the clouds.

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"Only a quarter of people in NSW use sun protection year-round, even though the UV radiation in NSW is high enough to damage unprotected skin for at least 10 months of the year," Ms King said.

5. A bit of vitamin D is good for me and my skin

Dermatologist Dr Philip Tong said when UV levels are three or above, most people need just a few minutes of sun exposure - such as walking from the office to get lunch, or hanging the washing on the line - to get enough vitamin D.

"When you are outdoors for more than a few minutes, a combination of sun protection measures is recommended to reduce the risk of skin cancer. In fact, studies have shown daily sunscreen use, coupled with other sun protection measures when outdoors does not compromise the synthesis of vitamin D in healthy people," Dr Tang said.

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