A Sussex woman who was diagnosed with skin cancer at just 26 is calling on the UK government to remove VAT from sunscreen, arguing that the essential form of protection should be more affordable and accessible.
Jessica Zbinden-Webster, from Ferring in West Sussex, plans to deliver a petition containing almost 100,000 signatures to Downing Street. The petition calls for the government to scrap the 20% VAT currently charged on sunscreen products.
Diagnosed With Skin Cancer at 26
Zbinden-Webster was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018, an experience that profoundly changed her perspective on sun protection and cancer prevention.
She described how the tumour had spread deeply beneath the surface of her skin and required surgery.
“So I had that lopped off and then the hole was so big that it couldn’t be closed with stitches,” she explained.
She was warned that the procedure would temporarily change her appearance.
“I was warned, you know, you may look a little different for a while and as you can see from the pictures, I did look a little different for a while.”
Her experience motivated her to speak publicly about skin cancer and the importance of prevention.
‘Sunscreen Is Not Cosmetic’
Zbinden-Webster argues that sunscreen should be treated as an important health product rather than a cosmetic item.
She says skin cancer affects a significant proportion of the population but believes many cases can be prevented through better protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, the poorest are priced out of skin cancer prevention because of the 20% ‘cosmetic’ tax on sunscreen products. Sunscreen is not ‘cosmetic’ – it’s critical,” she said.
Her campaign is particularly focused on making high-factor sunscreen more affordable for people who may struggle with rising household costs.
Petition Delivered to Downing Street
The petition, which has gathered almost 100,000 signatures, is being used to highlight concerns about the affordability of sunscreen and the growing impact of skin cancer in the UK.
Zbinden-Webster hopes the campaign will encourage policymakers to reconsider how sunscreen is taxed and make preventive protection more accessible to the public.
Her campaign comes as skin cancer remains a major public health concern in Britain, with health professionals continuing to emphasize the importance of protecting skin from excessive ultraviolet exposure.
Government Response
The government has said it is committed to tackling cancer through prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and research.
A government spokesperson said: “As part of our 10-year plan to reform the health service, and through a national cancer plan, we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention, to diagnosis, treatment, and research.”
The government also pointed out that high-factor sunscreen is already available on the NHS prescription list for certain medical conditions and can be supplied without VAT when it is dispensed by a pharmacist to eligible patients.
A Campaign Focused on Prevention
For Zbinden-Webster, the campaign is about more than tax policy. It is about making preventative healthcare easier for people to access.
Having experienced skin cancer herself at a young age, she wants others to understand that the disease can affect people who may not expect it and that protecting the skin is an important part of reducing risk.
Her petition has brought renewed attention to the question of whether sunscreen should continue to be treated as a standard consumer product for tax purposes—or whether its role in preventing skin cancer warrants a different approach.
For now, her campaign continues to push for change, with the hope that making sunscreen more affordable could encourage more people to use it regularly and protect themselves from potentially harmful sun exposure.
Editor1