US Dermatologists Tackling Harmful Sunscreen Misinformation

News Desk

Washington: The 2024 Orlando Health Cancer Institute survey revealed that one in seven American adults under 35 thinks daily sunscreen use is more harmful than direct sun exposure, and nearly a quarter believe staying hydrated can prevent a sunburn.

In the midst of a blazing summer, some social media influencers are offering potentially dangerous advice on sun protection, despite intensified warnings from health experts about overexposure amid rising rates of skin cancer. Videos, some garnering millions of views, share “homemade” recipes using ingredients such as beef tallow, avocado butter, and beeswax which are claimed to provide effective skin protection.

Orlando Health Cancer Institute Oncology Surgeon Rajesh Nair said, “People buy into a lot of really dangerous ideas that put them at added risk.”

In one viral TikTok video, “transformation coach” Jerome Tan discards a commercial cream and tells his followers that eating natural foods will allow the body to make its “own sunscreen”, providing no scientific evidence for this claim. Such online misinformation is increasingly causing real-world harm, remarked Experts.

In another one, a bare-chested TikTok influencer dismissively tosses a tube of sunscreen over his shoulder and declares that the cream causes cancer. He instead promotes “regular sun exposure” to his 400,000 followers—aa stance that contradicts US dermatologists, who are battling a surge in such dubious misinformation.

‘No Safe Tan’

As influencers increasingly cast doubt on commercial sunscreen products, a US survey has shown a decrease in their use, with about 75 per cent of Americans using sunscreen regularly, down from 79 per cent in 2022.

This decline coincides with rising public mistrust of established medical guidance — including on Covid-19 and other vaccines — and increasing reliance on influencers with little or no scientific knowledge.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Professor Daniel Bennett said that there is no safe tan. The evidence that ultraviolet light exposure is the primary preventable driver of skin cancer is overwhelming, Daniel added.

Many misleading or false claims come from influencers seeking to monetize their content on social media platforms, an echo chamber where sensational and false claims often drive engagement, experts say.

Some content creators leverage “sunscreen scepticism” to “sell their own supplements or endorse alternative all-natural sunscreens,” stated Mighty Joy Founder Eric Dahan.

The US Food and Drug Administration has called for more research into the ingredients in commercial sunscreens but recommends their use, noting that excessive sun exposure is a major contributor to skin cancer.

Homemade sunscreens “lack effective sun protection”, leaving users vulnerable to sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer, warns the American Academy of Dermatology. Some influencers’ recipes include zinc oxide, a known sun protector.

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Professor Adam Friedman stated, “There’s no way you’re making this in your basement.” AFP/APP