Don’t rush to ban sunscreens that can prevent skin cancer

The Star-Advertiser’s March 13 editorial, “Ensure sunscreen is safe,” reminds us that 1,250 unique species in Hawaii’s reefs need protection from the “heavy-hitting environmental threats” such as wastewater discharge, pollution, and climate change. But the conclusion that reef “protection” should come in the form of a ban on sunscreens neglects to protect the most important species of all: the people of Hawaii.

Non-melanoma skin cancer affects 3.5 million Americans every year. One million Americans have been diagnosed with melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer. Melanoma is now No. 7 in cancer caused fatalities in the United States. Another 178,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year.

Skin cancers have been directly related to previous sun exposure. The care of patients with skin cancer has cost the government and the health care industry billions of dollars. The more sun exposure the more skin cancer. Sunscreens help to minimize the risk of developing skin cancer.

Today, more than 70 percent of all sunscreens contain the critical ingredients oxybenzone or octinoxate for a good reason: They provide the vital broad-spectrum protection for high SPF sunscreens to block both UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays that can cause skin aging, skin damage and skin cancer. These medical ingredients are proven safe and effective, and are critical for skin cancer prevention.

It’s not just the Federal Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hawaii Department of Health, American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology and the Hawaii Dermatological Society that understand the importance of sunscreens. Please also consider the 2 out of 3 people in Hawaii who say they use sunscreens, and the 4 out of 5 Hawaii parents who use sunscreen to protect their children, in addition to the over 9 million visitors who come to Hawaii from around the world each year.

The very limited and questionable science that falsely accuses sunscreens for reef damage is dwarfed by volumes of local and international studies about the real threats to reefs which you stated yourselves: sewage, pollution, and the biggest offender, climate change. How is it that Midway island’s reef suffers the same damage that Oahu has, without the population and sunscreens? Recent independent studies of Oahu coastal waters have shown the levels of oxybenzone to be in the range of 1-2 parts per trillion, far below the levels that the laboratory study showed causing reef damage. We need legislative action to address the real threats not theoretical threats?

An arguably more important concern is the indisputable evidence that links the tragedy of sun exposure to the epidemic of skin cancer including melanoma, resulting in health care costs escalating and in some cases, death. A ban on these sunscreens in Hawaii — the state with the highest daily UV index warnings and very high rates of skin cancer and melanoma — would be best to address the real threats to reefs and a public health disaster.

In addition, a ban on these ingredients may result in a stigma against all sunscreens as being environmentally unfriendly. This could result in the reduction in use because of concern for the environment by the public, a significant risk to the health of our citizens.

I would also urge the Legislature to consider the public health risk and cost of implementation of this ban to the people of Hawaii. A force to inspect retail outlets, hotels and incoming passengers to prevent the sale would be very costly and may put the public at risk for skin cancer.

I urge our legislators to take time to consider the cost and public health implications of passing this bill before the science is in.

Doug Johnson, M.D., is a dermatologist and spokesperson for the Hawaii Dermatology Society.