Tanning advocates' criticism eclipses Sun Awareness Week's "over-trumped" warnings

Next week is the 20th National Sun Awareness Week, organized by the Canadian Dermatology Association.

It's difficult not to be aware of the sun. It rises in the east in the morning, sets in the west in the evening. Day in, day out. But the Canadian Dermatology Association figures the sun could use a bit more publicity. According to years of research, the CDA says, the sun is known to be closely associated with sunburns. Be aware.

Of course, sunburns are in turn associated with various types of skin cancers, the frequency of which have been steadily rising. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of melanoma has at least tripled in the last 45 years in Norway and Sweden, and doubled in the United States. The CDA's message, therefore, is that Canadians must observe Proper sun safety -- sunscreen, limited unprotected exposure, and avoid artificial tanning. Vitamin D, which is produced by the body as a result of exposure to light and has been found to have a protective effect in certain cancers as well as other important health benefits, should be absorbed instead in dietary form.

Sun Awareness Week has enraged the Joint Canadian Tanning Association. The group's executive director, Steve Gilroy, is going on the offensive:

"After millions of years of human evolution being exposed to sunlight many of us have in only the past 20 years or so become fearful of going out in the sun without sunscreen, a message we think has gone too far."

It's probably worth keeping in mind that the Joint Canadian Tanning Association comprises hundreds of owners of artificial tanning parlours. On the other hand, alleges Mr Gilroy's organization, the dermatologists accept plenty of funding from sunscreen manufacturers. Four companies -- Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough, Stiefel and Leo Pharma -- were named "Platinum Benefactors" for awarding grants of more than $50,000 (PDF) to the Canadian Dermatology Foundation. Mr Gilroy also alleges that the CDA is paid $5,000 to endorse a variety of sunscreens.

This isn't the first time Mr Gilroy has clashed with Canadian dermatologists. A year ago today, the dermatologists were blasting Mr Gilroy for claims that research showed tanning beds prevented some types of cancer.

It's unlikely this will be the last time the groups battle: the rhetoric seems to be heating up. Mr Gilroy complained in a release today:

"UV exposure in levels consistent with tanning is natural and intended -- a fact that often gets lost in over-trumped sun care messages... A lack of information about tanning and exposure to sun can have potentially detrimental consequences. Research has shown that 97% of Canadians are vitamin D deficient at some point during the year. Still, the Canadian Dermatology Association messaging seems to promote sun abstinence... We simply want Canadians to have the facts, after that, we trust they will be able to draw their own conclusions about tanning."

Photo: British National Space Centre

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