Most of us know someone who’s had a recent skin cancer scare. Perhaps they found a suspicious mole or had a lesion removed. Or worse, they’re now among the 5 million Americans diagnosed with skin cancer every year. This year, are expected to die of melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
According to a recent study in the U.K., were caused by sun exposure.
Other than avoiding exposure to the sun, the most effective way to prevent sun-damaged skin (irritation, burns, dryness, wrinkling, cancers and more) is to apply a high-SPF sunscreen.
So, it’s been disturbing to dermatologists and oncologists that a is gaining momentum. Some members call themselves “sun nutritionalists.” One says she’s an age and longevity advisor. Others claim that they’re scientists. But all of them are urging people to stop wearing protective sunscreens, falsely claiming that it’s the sunscreen that’s causing cancer, and that those wearing it are missing out on the healthful benefits of the sun’s rays.
TikTok, one of the social media platforms where this misinformation runs rampant, includes videos by influencers who say, “If you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t apply it to your body;” that direct sunshine can give you sharper “hunter eyes;” and even that people should bare their genital areas to the sun to increase testosterone and health.
Here & Now’s Robin Young asked , president of the American Academy of Dermatology and University of Pennsylvania vice chair of dermatology, her thoughts about the new movement.
“I was flabbergasted,” she said, “and there was so much misinformation, and I think it’s critically important that we know the facts … Number one, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are a proven carcinogen; they cause skin cancer. And that’s a fact that we have known for many, many years.”
And when it comes to sunscreen, Taylor said the benefits apply to everyone, regardless of skin tone.
“Every skin type has the possibility of burning if exposed to enough of the sun’s rays,” she said, adding that one of the best ways to prevent damage is to apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher water-resistant sunscreen daily, and to reapply it often.
Unlike a sunburn, which appears immediately after sun exposure, Taylor says long-term damage can take years to develop – that includes “speckles, sunspots, and the dreaded wrinkles that we see,” she said. It also includes cancers, including melanoma, which is among the deadliest skin cancers.
Taylor points out that a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that one out of six Americans, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, said they’d rather look great now, even if it meant that they would look worse later.
“So, I think that really says a lot,” Taylor said.
Taylor also addressed some of the myths that are being spread as fact. First, she said, there’s the concern that sunscreens disrupt natural hormones and are particularly dangerous for children. The claims, she said, are not backed by science.
Sunscreen comes in two varieties — physical barrier sunscreens whose ingredients include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or both — and chemical sunscreens.
“Now, I want to be absolutely clear,” Taylor said, “sunscreens are regulated by the U.S. [The Food and Drug Administration] for safety, effectiveness, even the quality of sunscreens. And so it’s all about the science, and they have not deemed chemical sunscreens to be harmful, nor dangerous.”
In terms of disrupting hormones, another claim, Taylor said, “We do not have scientific evidence that sunscreens do that. Those are the important facts.”
Distrust of government, which also extends to well-established vaccines and other medical treatments, is on the rise at the same time as some government leaders are muddying the conversation.
President Biden included sunscreen use in his Cancer Moonshot plan, but the Trump administration’s , released in May, doesn’t mention skin cancer, though it’s among the most preventable cancers. And Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of Health and Human Services, is said to frequent tanning beds. He also posted on X last year, saying the aggressive suppression of sunshine was about to end, though there was no explanation of what that meant.
Taylor notes that “indoor tanning has been demonstrated time and time again to increase your risk of skin cancer because, remember, you’re receiving ultraviolet rays,” which she says are a known carcinogen.
Many who eschew the use of sunscreen are also concerned that using these creams prevents us from absorbing Vitamin D, which is important for health. Calley Means, one of RFK Jr.’s advisers, has argued that many diseases are symptoms of a larger spiritual crisis caused by separation from basic biological needs, including sunlight.
Taylor explains that while Vitamin D is important, most people who go outside still get plenty because it takes “only a small amount of sun exposure to produce the vitamin D that your body needs, and none of us applies enough sunscreen” to prevent that. She also notes that a healthy diet, including fish and eggs, supplies us with Vitamin D as well.
Among the other misinformation being spread is a false claim that direct sunshine on the genitals can provide health benefits. Taylor admits she was stunned to hear that theory.
“Let me just say, I’m not speechless very often. I’m speechless at this moment,” Taylor said. “So let me just say this: There’s absolutely no scientific evidence that that is correct, and a huge, huge word of caution: the skin of the genitals is very thin and very sensitive. The last thing these individuals want is a sunburn or blister in the genital area.”
In addition to applying and reapplying sunscreen, Dr. Taylor provides these tips:
- Avoid the sun during peak hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That could mean something as simple as walking on the shady side of the street.
- Wear hats to protect your eyes with sunglasses since ultraviolet radiation can damage your eyes.
- Use an umbrella at the beach
- Cover up with lightweight sun-resistant clothing when you can’t avoid the sun during peak hours.
- Reapply sunscreen after swimming, sweating, or several hours after your first application.
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produced and edited . Miller-Medzon also produced it for the web.
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