Preventing vitamin D deficiency trumps sun protection for people with dark skin, with updated guidance stating they can skip the sunscreen when outdoors for short periods.

Other than routine use of sunglasses, people with deeply pigmented brown to black skin are advised only to consider sun protection if outdoors for two hours or longer when the UV index is ≥3.

But for everyone else, daily sun protection is recommended when the UV index is forecast to reach ≥3 regardless of UV exposure length, according to a position statement endorsed by Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

“Adults with Fitzpatrick skin type 5 or 6 (ie, dark brown or black skin) are at low risk of skin cancer but are at greater risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, especially if living in southern Australia,” write Professor Rachel Neale, from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and colleagues.