Skin Cancer, Safety and Trust: A Personal Reflection on Why Standards Matter in Australia

Skin cancer is not an abstract issue in Australia. For many families, including my own, it is woven into our personal history.

I come from Irish heritage. Pale skin, freckles and a lifelong sensitivity to the sun were simply part of who we were, long before we fully understood what that meant in an Australian climate. Growing up, sun protection was not spoken about the way it is now. Like many families, we learned through experience rather than education.

Over the years, skin cancers have become a familiar reality in my family. Regular skin checks, procedures, scars and the ongoing vigilance that comes with knowing you are at higher risk have shaped how I think about health, prevention and care. It is not dramatic. It is not sensational. It is simply part of life for many Australians, particularly those with fair skin and European heritage.

That lived experience is why I hold such deep respect for evidence-based care; and why recent regulatory action around the illegal supply and advertising of black salve products gave me pause for reflection.

Skin Cancer in Australia: Risk, Fear and the Search for Answers

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Early detection and appropriate treatment save lives. Yet when fear or uncertainty arises around a changing spot or lesion, it is understandable that people seek solutions that feel natural, gentle or empowering.

I see this often in clinics and online. People are not reckless. They are trying to protect themselves.

However, some products marketed as natural solutions carry very real risks. Black salve is one such example. It is prohibited in Australia because it can destroy healthy tissue, cause infection, scarring and (most concerningly) delay the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. These risks are not theoretical. They are well documented.

Recent charges announced by the Therapeutic Goods Administration are not about attacking individuals or limiting choice. They exist to protect the public from harm, particularly in a country where skin cancer is so prevalent and outcomes depend heavily on early, accurate assessment.

Why Credentials and Scope of Practice Matter in Skin Cancer Care

As a naturopath with more than two decades of clinical experience, I am deeply committed to natural medicine when it is used appropriately, ethically and within professional boundaries.

Complementary health does not sit outside responsibility. In Australia, qualified practitioners are bound by education standards, codes of conduct and advertising regulations designed to protect the public.

One of the most important professional skills we are taught is knowing when something sits outside our scope. Skin cancers require medical assessment and diagnosis. Supporting skin health, immune resilience and recovery alongside appropriate medical care is very different from claiming to treat or remove cancerous lesions.

This distinction matters. Not because one system is superior, but because each has a role.

The Growing Influence of Online Wellness Advice

The online wellness space has expanded rapidly, and while it can be supportive and educational, it can also blur lines. Advice shared without appropriate training, context or accountability can unintentionally place people at risk - particularly when it involves serious conditions such as skin cancer.

Checking someone’s credentials is not about scepticism or judgement. It is about making informed choices.

Ask where advice comes from.
Ask what training someone has.
Ask whether what is being offered aligns with Australian health regulations.

A Shared Responsibility for Safe, Evidence-Informed Care

My personal experience with skin cancer has taught me that prevention, early detection and safe care are acts of respect for the body and not fear of it. Standards exist to protect people at their most vulnerable moments.

As Australians, especially those with fair skin and a family history like mine, we deserve care that is thoughtful, evidence-informed and delivered with integrity.

When we honour professional standards and choose qualified support, we protect not only ourselves, but the wider community. And that, ultimately, is what good healthcare is about.