- Several social media influencers have made claims that sunscreen is bad for you.
- Research has proven that sunscreen can help lower the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Doctors recommend wearing sunscreen every time you step outside.
Social media has a reputation for spreading misinformation, especially around health. But there is a growing wave of influencers who insist that sunscreen is bad for you, and it’s getting plenty of attention.
Microinfluencer Riley Check, who wrote a message on X that went viral that said, “People who wear sunscreen are always getting skin cancer.”
Meanwhile popular influencer Gubba Homestead shared a video on X of herself sitting in the sun. “There is no proof the sun causes cancer,” she wrote over top. “I don’t wear sunscreen, and I never will,” she wrote in the caption. “We blame the sun for cancer when we should be blaming our diets. But if we cleaned up our diets, how would Big Food and Big Pharma make their money? Sunscreen and a poor diet will make you sick.”
American author and TV personality Kristin Cavallari also said in a January episode of her Let’s Be Honest podcast that she doesn’t wear sunscreen. Her guest, holistic doctor Ryan Monahan, responded by saying, “the sun is life-giving and nourishing” and claimed that following an anti-inflammatory diet can create an “antioxidant reservoir” in the body. That, along with developing a “base coat” of a tan through gradual sun exposure can help people be outside without getting burned, he claimed.
While Monahan said that having astaxanthin (a pigment that shows up in prawns, trout and yeast) in your diet can help lower your risk of burns, that is based on a very small study and animal studies. There are also potential dangers to implying people don’t need sunscreen at all.
Years of research has found that unprotected sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, and that sunscreen can help. Here’s what you need to know.
Does sunscreen cause cancer?
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. About two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. Non-melanoma (keratinocyte) skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. And more than 95% of skin cancers are caused by exposure to UV radiation, reports the Cancer Council NSW. Genes can also play a role in your risk of skin cancer.
Sunscreen is an important part of sun protection. The Cancer Council recommends you slip, slop, slap, seek shade and slide on sun glasses to prevent skin cancer. This is needed for most days year round in Australia, especially when the UV index is forecasted to be 3 and above. You can check the UV level with the free SunSmart Global UV app.
Claims that sunscreen causes cancer are “absolutely not” true, says dermatologist Dr Gary Goldenberg. “These social media claims are completely false and aren’t based on any scientific data,” he says. “Data clearly show that UV [rays] cause skin cells to mutate and produce cancerous cells.”
The data is “indisputable and multiple mutations have been identified,” Dr Goldenberg says. “It’s also been shown that sun protection, including using sunscreen, can help decrease skin cancer cell formation,” he adds.
It’s not clear what kind of cancer influencers think sunscreen causes, but there is no evidence linking sunscreen use, including chemical sunscreen use, to any form of cancer, points out dermatologist Dr Ife J. Rodney. “There are chemicals in a bunch of different substances that we put on our skin and in medications,” she says. “You really have to take all information in context and make sure you’re basing your actions on fact.”
What chemicals should you avoid in sunscreen?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates sunscreens in Australia, and makes sure only ingredients, including chemicals, which have been tested for quality and safety are used. The Cancer Council reports that "there is now very strong evidence that the list of commonly used active ingredients used in sunscreen do not pose a concern for human health."
“There’s no cause and effect evidence in humans that [sunscreens] cause cancer,” Dr Goldenberg points out.
However, some people are wary of polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE). These are PFAS compounds, aka “forever chemicals,” although most sunscreens that contain them only have them at low levels, according to the University of Colorado. PFAS is also found in the water, air, and soil, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Oxybenzone is another ingredient that has been flagged over concerns that it’s a hormone disrupter. But there are no conclusive studies that oxybenzone is harmful to humans, and research that links oxybenzone to harm cite rat studies where the rodents were actually fed oxybenzone. It would take someone 277 years of sunscreen use to have the same dose that produced these effects, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
“At one point, there were reports of benzene being present in sunscreen,” says dermatologist Dr Cindy Wassef. (Benzene is a cancer-causing substance that’s typically used as a solvent, per the National Cancer Institute.) “This is not a sunscreen ingredient, but represented a contaminant,” Dr Wassef says.
Why people should use sunscreen
A lot of the commentary around skipping sunscreen points out that our caveman ancestors didn’t wear sunscreen and didn’t get skin cancer (that we know of).
But it’s not that our ancestors figured out how to avoid skin cancer; they typically died before the cumulative effects of sun damage would show up as skin cancer, Dr Rodney says. “Skin cancers usually arise from cumulative sun damage,” she explains. “As time goes on, your risk of skin cancer increases. By the 50s or 60s, a lot of people who should have gotten skin cancer would see it by that point.”
But sunscreen has been proven to lower your risk of developing skin cancer, points out cosmetic and dermatology researcher Dr Joshua Zeichner.
“When it comes to sunscreen, the benefits in protecting the skin against the development of skin cancers, including life-threatening melanoma, outweigh any perceived risks that sunscreen is harmful to your health,” he says. “Be cautious in listening to unvetted information you may hear on social media. Anyone can say whatever they want on social media, whether it is factually correct or not.”
What’s the safest kind of sunscreen?
All of the sunscreens sold in Australia, whether they are mineral or chemical based, have been tested to be safe in humans.
“Ultimately, the type of sunscreen you use is your personal preference,” Dr Zeichner says. “Mineral sunscreens are a great option for kids and people who are sensitive, since they tend to be less potentially irritating. However, they can leave behind a white cast on the skin if not fully rubbed in.”
Dr Rodney suggests including both mineral and chemical sunscreen in your routine, if you don’t have sensitive skin. “Chemical sunscreen usually goes on the skin easier and has a more elegant finish,” which makes it ideal for layering under makeup and using on the face, she says. “But mineral sunscreen blocks a larger spectrum,” she adds.
The bottom line
There is a lot of research to support the use of sunscreen to lower your risk of developing skin cancer, and from getting burned when you're out in the sun. If you have questions about sunscreen safety, consult a dermatologist for more information, not a social media influencer.
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