Some claims made on social media regarding sun protection have created a huge misconception that sunscreen can provide protection from the sun. May cause skin cancer.
Hundreds of creators, many of them on TikTok, have posted videos arguing that Sun It is not anything that causes cancer, but the harmful chemicals found in sunscreens.
This stems from the 2021 recall of Neutrogena spray sunscreen and an Aveeno product (Aveeno Protect + Refresh Aerosol Sunscreen) due to the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen.
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According to a Harvard Medical School advisory in October 2021, Johnson & Johnson officials have confirmed that benzene is not a sunscreen ingredient.
Additional testing found the levels of benzene in these products were so low that they were unlikely to cause health problems.
Bottles of Johnson & Johnson’s Neutrogena Beach Defense, one of the sunscreens recalled for containing benzene, sit on a table. (Amy Dilger/SOPA Images/Light Rocket via Getty Images)
Experts recommend choosing a different brand of sunscreen as a solution.
But a national survey conducted by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute in Florida found that one in seven adults under the age of 35 believe sunscreen is more harmful to the skin than direct sun exposure.
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Another 23% believe that drinking water and staying hydrated can prevent sunburn.
“This phenomenon is a result of the public’s growing distrust of companies due to the proliferation of harmful chemicals in consumer products.”
Many Americans (32%) also believe that tanning makes people look attractive Better and healthierThe survey found.
Rajesh Nair, M.D., an oncology surgeon at Orlando Health Cancer Institute, commented in a press release that “there is no such thing as a healthy tan.”
According to a study by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, 32 percent of Americans believe that tans make people look good and healthy. (iStock)
“It’s really just a visible manifestation of skin damage,” he said. “But we’re fighting for a positive image and Healthcare facilities In fact, the truth is just the opposite: sunburned skin increases the risk of life-threatening diseases.”
“Age, sex, and phenotype also play a role.”
Krista Rubin, a nurse practitioner and member of the Mass General Cancer Center’s melanoma team, told Fox News Digital that “there is very little evidence to support the claim that sunscreens are carcinogenic.”
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“There is clear evidence of a link between UV radiation exposure and skin cancer,” he wrote in an email. “However, the risk of developing skin cancer is not limited to exposure to UV radiation alone — age, sex, and phenotype also play a role.”
Men have a higher risk of developing skin cancer, Rubin said, as well as people who have blonde or red hair, light skin or light eyes.
According to experts, sunburn is caused by damage caused by the sun’s UV rays. (iStock)
Other risk factors include having a suppressed immune system, being a solid organ transplant recipient, or certain medications,
Rubin reiterates that sunburn is caused by the sun’s UV rays that damage the skin. So, while drinking water in hot weather will help prevent dehydration and keep the body cool, it will not Protect yourself from sunburn.
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“A tan is visible evidence of skin injury,” the expert said. “Whether from the sun or a tanning bed, tanning exposes the skin to high levels of UVA radiation, which we know is not healthy and is linked to both skin cancer and accelerated aging.”
Social media expert Eric Dahan, founder of Mighty Joy, said he believes “misinformation about sunscreen is rampant” on social media.
“Tan is visible evidence of skin injury,” said one expert. (iStock)
“It’s often spread by well-intentioned but overall ignorant, self-appointed people Health and Wellness “We consult with experts and select dermatologists,” said Dahan, who lives in California.
“Most misinformation occurs because real science is less flashy and more subtle than bold (false) statements.”
Dahan said the spread of misinformation about sunscreens reflects “general public sentiment” about the ingredients in the products.
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“This phenomenon is a result of the public’s growing distrust of companies due to the proliferation of harmful chemicals in consumer products,” he said.
“Over the years we’ve discovered that materials that were once thought to be ‘safe’ are extremely harmful — like lead, BPA, PFAS, and now plastics.”
An increase in cancer rates among young people could fuel “mistrust of companies”, one expert has said. (iStock)
There is also a increased cancer rates This further fuels a “healthy distrust of companies and government regulators” among young people, Dahan said.
“As far as sunscreens go, it seems most of the misinformation is due to an old chemical used decades ago that was later banned after being recalled due to a contamination incident,” he said.
Among consumers of social media, Dahan suggested that “it’s very hard to determine what’s true if you’re not an expert.”
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“Studies are contradictory, there are conflicting opinions from seemingly credible people, there is outright misinformation, and there is an overall lack of trust in both the private companies that make these products and government regulators,” he said.
Some experts — including Dr. Nikki Ghezzi, a board-certified dermatologist in Florida — have taken to social media to recommend using sunscreen alternatives that don’t contain benzene.
A dermatologist recommended using a zinc-based mineral sunscreen. (iStock)
“When it comes to skin cancer and skin health, any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen,” Gazzi said in a TikTok video posted in July 2023.
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To avoid exposure to “chemical sunscreens,” Gazzi recommends applying a zinc-based mineral sunscreen.
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“This is actually what I recommend to my patients, especially my Pregnant patients,” He said.
Fox News Digital has contacted Johnson & Johnson for comment.
