Low-Dose UV Project

The Australia Cancer Council guidelines are that sun protection is not usually needed when the UV Index is less than 3. However, this is not currently well supported by evidence. In addition, we do not know which time of day is safest to make vitamin D. This study will generate the evidence we need to give people accurate advice about safe sun exposure.

The project is being led by a team of researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, including Dr Elke Hacker, Professor Rachel Neale, Professor David Whiteman, and Professor Scott Byrne (collaborator from The University of Sydney).

We would like to hear from you if you:

• are aged between 18 and 55 years
• have fair to olive skin
• have no personal history of skin cancer
• have no personal history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• are not taking any blood thinning medications; or medications which may cause you to be sensitive to light, or which reduce inflammation and healing
• have no history of allergy or adverse reactions to local anaesthetic or any related drug.

We will compensate you for your time with up to $500 (in e-gift cards) upon completion of all study procedures.

A $100 e-gift card will be provided for each session completed at QIMR Berghofer, plus a $100 bonus e-gift card for completing all 4 sessions. All e-gift cards will be provided after your last clinic visit.

Biopsies

There are minimal risks associated with taking part in this project. When you have a skin biopsy taken there is a small risk of infection or bleeding. If you are taking any medications which might stop your blood clotting, we will not enrol you in the study. You need to tell us if you start taking a new medication part way through the study.

Low-dose ultraviolet (UV) radiation

You will be exposed to a small amount of UV radiation on the skin of your back (similar to those obtained during normal daily activity).

The dose of UV exposure will not be strong enough to cause a burn or any redness on your skin. You will not be able to feel the UV exposure. The risk of it causing any long-term harm is very low. It is the type of dose that you could easily receive as you go about your everyday life, and with only four doses this will be insignificant compared with your lifetime exposure.

All participants will have to:

• complete an online questionnaire about their demographics, skin type, and sun exposure
• visit QIMR Berghofer four days in a row (Monday to Thursday).
• lie on their stomach while six small circles of skin on their lower back (each with an area less than 1 cm2) are exposed to different low doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation (similar to natural sunlight)
• have a total of seven skin biopsies taken by a doctor throughout the study. Each biopsy will be 2 mm diameter and will be taken under local anaesthetic. No stitches will be required

The first visit will take approximately 1.5 hours. Visits two, three, and four will take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours each.