A summary of new NICE guidance on sunlight exposure: encouraging behavioural change in photoprotection

Healthcare professionals can play an important role in preventing skin cancer via raising awareness of the effects of sun exposure and supporting people to revise behaviours that place them at increased risk. The recent revision to NICE guidance on Sunlight Exposure provides up-to-date, evidence-based information that practitioners should seek to pass onto the public with regards to sensible sunlight exposure. The first half of the article gives a brief summary of the at-risk groups, the environmental factors that require consideration, and the myths and misconceptions that persist in relation to sunlight exposure which need to be challenged. The evidence suggests that simply providing information on risk is usually not sufficient to change behaviour in those who actively seek to tan; consequently the second half of this article describes some simple behaviour change techniques for use in dermatology practice.