Influencers are peddling a long debunked theory.
An everyday essential is under attack on TikTok. Ignoring scientific evidence, influencers are spreading misinformation about sunscreens, claiming they are toxic. The anti-sunscreen movement has alarmed dermatologists, who recommend that everyone use sunscreen to protect against skin cancer and aging.
Wellness and health influencers have been skeptical of makeup and skincare products for years, often pushing for natural products, detergents, and organic diets. (See: Apple Cider Vinegar and Belle Gibson). In a similar vein, TikTokers are increasingly sharing videos explaining that they don’t use sunscreen because “our ancestors didn’t.”
As ludicrous as it sounds, influencers have also promoted homemade sunscreen. One combined jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, and zinc oxide powder last year, and dermatologists were quick to dismiss this alternative to SPF because there is no way to know how much protection this concoction may offer. “Many things applied to the skin have some degree of SPF, including some of the ingredients [used in this mixture]. But these may be an SPF 2 or 3, not SPF 30, which is what I recommend my patients use—and ideally one with a mineral component like titanium or zinc,” New York-based board-certified dermatologist Adarsh Vijay Mudgil told Glamour.
The anti-sunscreen movement is worrisome because SPF is missing from many routines already. In 2020, the National Health Interview Survey showed that only 12.3% of men and 29% of women above age 18 used sunscreen daily when outside for more than an hour on a sunny day. Men ages 18-29 were least likely to use sunscreen (8.2%). According to the American Academy of Dermatology, only 37% of Gen Z use sunscreen.
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Sunscreens Protect You
The sun’s ultraviolet rays reach the earth–UVA can age your skin, while UVB can cause sunburn; both are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and one in five Americans will develop it in their lifetime. Exposure to UV rays increases the risk.
An easy way to prevent it is by “applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing.” There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens have ingredients such as avobenzone or oxybenzone that absorb UV rays. Physical or mineral sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to create a film to reflect the rays. Both are safe to use, but if you’re concerned, choose the mineral option.
One argument often heard on social media is that sunscreen is unnatural and the chemicals in it are absorbed by the skin and reach the bloodstream, causing cancer. However, dermatologists have been debunking these myths for years, and there is ample scientific evidence to prove the benefits.
“Sunscreen is not a conspiracy,” Dr. Shereene Idriss, a board-certified dermatologist, told CNN. She also said that it is one of the most well-studied tools to protect against sun damage, skin cancer, and premature aging. “There is no DIY alternative in the form of coconut oil or carrot juice that can ever replace it.” She also went on to explain that the study about chemicals absorbed by the skin was conducted on rats using high doses and was not reproduced in humans.
Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration regulates sunscreen and last week sent a letter to Supergoop!, a skin care company, to inform it (and five others) that its body mousse lacks the required approval. The agency also posted on X, “Beware of sunscreen products in mousse form because they might not be effective.”
Pack Your SPF
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone use a “broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) ≥30 and a label that says that the product protects from both UVA and UVB.” Apply sunscreen on dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two to four hours. Other precautions include avoiding peak sun hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), wearing long-sleeved clothing and hats, using lip balm, and wearing sunglasses.
Travelers, don’t get sucked into this abyss of misinformation. Pack a good sunscreen before you head to the beach this summer—and remember it for the ski trip next season.
Related: The ‘Airport Theory’ TikTok Trend Is Causing Passengers to Miss Their Flights