Do You Really Need to Wear Sunscreen?
Source: BU Today, August 2024
You may have noticed a trend popping up on your social media feeds this summer: posts that claim you don’t need to wear sunscreen and that label certain kinds of sunscreen as toxic or question if sunscreen does more harm than good.
The misinformation—and it is misinformation, experts say—is largely led by influencers who are averse to the chemicals in sunscreen or who believe that wearing sunscreen is unnatural. Some of their claims center around the idea that eating antioxidant-rich foods make sunscreen unnecessary. Others argue, wrongly, that the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, which work by absorbing UV rays into the skin before releasing them, can end up in the bloodstream in toxic concentrations.
Dermatologists have voiced alarm about the impact this misinformation is having, especially among young Americans. According to one survey, nearly one in seven people under 35 believe that using sunscreen daily is more dangerous for their skin than direct sun exposure. Another 23 percent believe that staying hydrated alone prevents sunburn.