Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks may have committed the ultimate Australian culinary faux pas when he shocked the internet with his thickly spread Vegemite on toast.
Any good Aussie knows that a thin, delicate layer of our beloved national condiment is the only way to reap its many benefits.
But when it comes to another national necessity – sunscreen - Australians need to be embracing Hanks’s gusto.
A recent report by consumer group Choice has sparked concern about the reliability of sunscreen labels, with some products performing far below advertised sun protection claims.
While these findings are worth examining, they risk distracting us from the real issue: most Australians simply aren’t applying sunscreen properly.
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of how well sunscreen protects your skin from UV radiation.
But even the best sunscreen is only as good as how it’s used. The average person applies far too little.
To achieve the protection promised on the label, sunscreen needs to be applied generously – use Hanks’s Vegemite level as your guide.
It’s less about the SPF number than people might realise - take the Choice report, for example.
Some of the sunscreens tested were advertised as SPF 50 but tested closer to SPF 24.
While that sounds alarming, the actual difference in UV protection is relatively small - around 1.3 percent in real-world efficiency.
There were also some inconsistencies in the testing, with some sunscreens evaluated after 15 minutes, others after 30, which makes direct comparison a challenge.
The report raises valid questions, but what’s most important is focusing on consistent application habits, which have a far greater impact on protection than minor SPF discrepancies.
Even sunscreen with an SPF of 12 can offer excellent protection if it’s applied correctly and reapplied every two hours, or more frequently for those swimming or sweating.
A higher SPF can offer a little more flexibility on reapplication times for people who are a bit forgetful or stingy with application, but it’s really no substitute for good habits.
Poor application can reduce the effectiveness of an SPF 50 to the level of an SPF 10, so it’s worth getting it right.
My advice is not to obsess over the number, focus on the method.
Apply generously, reapply often, and don’t forget those easy-to-miss spots like ears, feet, and the back of the neck.
Sunscreen isn’t a one-and-done deal; it’s a ritual, and one that could save your skin.
Dr Michael Freeman is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Bond University