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Globe and Mail
12 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Morning Update: Sunscreen skepticism goes viral
Good morning. The TikTok generation is trading sunblock for sunburns, using apps to optimize their summer glow — more on that below, along with the one-year anniversary of Jasper's wildfire and Ozzy Osbourne's musical legacy. But first: The kids are tanning again. They're frying themselves to a Paris Hilton Y2K crisp. They're speeding along the entire process with gels that are basically Vaseline and lotions that are literally beer. (The Cleveland Clinic actually stepped in to warn about the perils of 'beer tanning.') They're using apps with names like Rayz and Beam to track peak UV hours, so they can hustle outside and sharpen their tan lines by laying in the sun. Then they're showing off their handiwork on social media, where the hashtag 'tanlines' has appeared in more than 236 million TikTok posts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 70 per cent of Gen Z report actively tanning. Half of them say they returned with a burn, a number that ticks up to 57 per cent in Canada. And while the pursuit of a sun-baked complexion is at least a century old – back when Josephine Baker launched her own tanning oil and Coco Chanel said 'a golden tan is the index of chic' – this generation appears to be worryingly unaware of the risks. Maybe the beer tanning tipped you off: 28 per cent of 18- to 26-year-olds say they don't believe suntans cause skin cancer. And 68 per cent admit they often forgo sunscreen. Real quick: Scientists estimate that exposure to UV radiation is associated with 80 to 90 per cent of all skin cancers. That includes melanoma, which is its most fatal form. Sunscreen isn't a silver bullet – flat-out sun avoidance and sun-protective clothing are the best ways to keep your skin safe. Still, study after study after study have shown that regular sunscreen use reduces your risk of developing skin cancer. But that message doesn't tend to accompany those #tanlines Tiktoks. Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta, told The Globe that what's playing out on social media instead is nothing short of an 'anti-sunscreen movement.' He chalks that up to the power of online influencers such as American podcaster Joe Rogan, who has floated the idea that sunscreen can damage the brain. (It can't.) Wellness bro Andrew Huberman said on his show that the chemicals in sunscreen may be endocrine disruptors. (They're not.) Trad-couple influencers Nara and Lucky Blue Smith whipped up their own sunscreen from coconut oil and shea butter. The process – which you really should not try at home – has been viewed on TikTok nearly 22 million times. To the most bullish sunscreen truthers, the sun is all-natural and SPF is synthetic, peddled by Big Pharma to keep you sick. It's an easy theory that fits tidily into the whole Make America Healthy Again movement, where measles are treated with cod liver oil, not vaccines, and milk is best when it's raw, not pasteurized, and bone marrow is a daily menu staple. Sometimes, MAHA worlds collide: A brand called Primally Pure is now hawking a sunscreen alternative made from beef tallow. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – who sports a serious bronze himself – posted last year that the war on sunshine (and anything else that 'can't be patented by Pharma') was about to end. It's all having an impact on young adults. The Orlando Health Cancer Institute found that 14 per cent of them felt it was more harmful to wear sunscreen every day than to go without. Nearly 30 per cent of Gen Z said getting a tan was more important than preventing skin cancer anyway. In his inaugural address last January, U.S. President Donald Trump – another tanning enthusiast – promised to usher in a new golden age. This might not exactly be the hue he was aiming for, but it's looking increasingly like the one he'll get. One year ago, a 50-metre-high wildfire overtook Jasper, displacing the entire town and destroying at least a third of its buildings. Read more here about the long road to recovery – and how residents are working to rebuild their community. At home: A cybersecurity breach at the $4-billion hedge fund manager Waratah, which handles money for wealthy Canadians, may have exposed names, social insurance numbers and account sizes. Abroad: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early for the summer to avoid a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Music: Just weeks after playing the final Black Sabbath concert, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76. Sports: Canadian soccer phenom Olivia Smith is the first female player to fetch a £1-million transfer fee after signing with Arsenal of England's Women's Super League. Pop: It was a banner second quarter for Coca-Cola, which beat profit estimates and is about to put cane sugar back in its drinks.
Globe and Mail
12 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
As anti-sunscreen misinformation spreads online, skin cancer advocates say beware
Kelly Johnston's skin cancer journey began more than a decade ago, after a biopsy revealed that a red, scaly scab above her left eyebrow was basal cell carcinoma. Since then, she's had other cancerous spots appear elsewhere on her body, including on her back. In 2022, Ms. Johnston received more serious news: She had melanoma, considered the most fatal form of skin cancer, on her left inner thigh. Her melanoma was caught early and removed by her doctor, thanks to check-ins and screenings, which are, and will continue to be, part of her life as a skin cancer patient. Ms. Johnston is part of a growing group of Canadians – including dermatologists and representatives for cancer organizations – who are speaking up about the dangers of ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure and artificial sources, as well as rising rates of skin cancer. Doctors turn to social media to help patients where they're at: online in a sea of misinformation This push for awareness is taking place at a time when physicians say misinformation about sunscreen is spreading online, including debunked theories positing that the products are toxic. Some posts on TikTok and Instagram claim that certain sunscreen ingredients, specifically oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, are linked to cancer. Melanoma Canada says this is not supported by evidence. The growth of online medical misinformation is considered a major public health problem because it undermines scientific research and contributes to negative health outcomes. In the case of sunscreen, dermatologists warn about dangerous and even fatal consequences linked to people turning away from its use. They say sunscreen offers critical protection from ultraviolet, or UV, exposure. Ms. Johnston is concerned about what she's seeing play out on social media about sunscreen. This is coupled, she said, with how the platforms generate social pressures to look a certain way. 'Skin cancer, the risk of melanoma – this is serious stuff that is just not worth sitting in the sun or in a tanning bed for,' said Ms. Johnston, who is a 38-year-old content creator and model based in Owen Sound, Ont. 'You're naturally beautiful the way you are.' The Canadian Cancer Society estimated that last year, 11,300 Canadians would be diagnosed with melanoma and 1,300 others would die because of it. Of those diagnosed, the society projected 6,500 would be men, and 4,800 would be women. The World Health Organization says 85 per cent of melanomas that present in patients over the age of 30 are attributed to UV exposure. It also says tanning beds are a public health issue that account for about half a million new cancer diagnoses every year in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Falyn Katz, the CEO of Melanoma Canada, said that the cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex or race. Sunscreen and sun safety is important for everyone, she added. 'Why would we not take the opportunity to prevent a potentially deadly cancer?' she said. Ms. Katz warns online misinformation about sunscreen is both worrying and dangerous. Some influencers, she said, are trying to teach people how to make their own sunscreen, without any of the medical background and knowledge required to do so. She encouraged seeking information about sun protection from reputable sources. For instance, all sunscreens available for sale on shelves, including at pharmacies, must be evaluated and approved by Health Canada. The Canadian Medical Association and other health organizations have also highlighted their concerns about the uptick in medical misinformation being widely shared on social media platforms. Timothy Caulfield, who is the research director at the Health Law Institute, and a professor in the faculty of law and school of public health at the University of Alberta, studies this space. He said what is playing out is nothing short of an 'anti-sunscreen movement.' This misinformation, he added, is creating real harm. Prof. Caulfield pointed to the sway of online influencers, including American podcaster Joe Rogan, as a big factor. Mr. Rogan's show has explored questions on whether sunscreen can harm the brain. Inside the testosterone-fuelled, regimented and expensive world of longevity influencers Meanwhile, there is robust evidence that sunscreen is effective and that most melanomas are caused by exposure to the sun, Prof. Caulfield said. At the same time, data shows younger people are less inclined to use sunscreen, which he sees as a direct result of the misinformation about it, as well as about the sun. In May, a study led by McGill University found Canadians are spending more time in the sun, but using less sun protection. It also found young adults were much more likely to get sunburned and use tanning beds than older adults. For Ms. Johnston, cancer has upended her pursuit of a golden glow. While she still seeks a bronzed look, it comes from self-tanner now, instead. 'Unsafe UV exposure, it catches up with you,' she said. 1. Look for apparel with UV protection: This can include clothing such as shorts, shirts, bathing suits and hats, from a variety of different brands. 2. Cover up as much skin as possible; consider long sleeves and a broad-brimmed hat. 3. Plan to do activities such as outdoor exercise or yardwork outside of peak UV hours, which are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. 4. Try to sit in the shade if you are outside. 5. Don't forget sunscreen. SPF 50 or above is recommended. Apply the product 20 minutes before swimming and reapply it every two hours or more.
Globe and Mail
12 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Schedules Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call Dates
U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (NYSE: USPH), a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics and provider of industrial injury prevention services, announced that it will report its financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2025, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, after the stock market closes, with the conference call to follow the next morning, on Thursday, August 7, 2025. To listen to the live call, please go to and click on conference calls under the Investor Relations section. Please go to the website 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, a playback of the conference call can be accessed until November 5, 2025 at USPH's website. About U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Founded in 1990, U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. owns and/or manages 768 outpatient physical therapy clinics in 44 states. USPH clinics provide preventative and post-operative care for a variety of orthopedic-related disorders and sports-related injuries, treatment for neurologically-related injuries and rehabilitation of injured workers. USPH also has an industrial injury prevention business which provides onsite services for clients' employees including injury prevention and rehabilitation, performance optimization, post-offer employment testing, functional capacity evaluations, and ergonomic assessments. More information about U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. is available at
