Anti-sunscreen ‘lies' sweeping social media are dangerous, dermatologist warns

Irish Independent

3 hours ago

Influencers on platforms such as TikTok are claiming in posts that chemicals in sunscreen are dangerous. Some viral clips have gone so far as to claim 'the sun does not cause skin cancer'.
Reality TV star Sam Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex was criticised when she recently posted that none of her family used sunscreen as she believed it was 'full of toxic ingredients'.
Professor Anne Marie Tobin, the HSE's national clinical lead for dermatology, said there is 'absolutely no truth' to the claims and warned that misinformation is particularly dangerous for the Irish population.
She said 75pc of Irish people have skin that is at risk of burning on exposure to the sun, 'and never tan or tan only after a long time, so they're at particular risk of skin cancer'.
It makes no sense to me. It's anti-science, anti-evidence — it's just untrue
The consultant dermatologist at Tallaght University Hospital said there is no evidence to suggest the chemicals in sunscreen are harmful.
'It makes no sense to me. It's anti-science, anti-evidence — it's just untrue. By not using sunscreen, people are increasing their risk of cancer. Apart from the risk of skin cancer, exposure to the sun really damages your collagen, that's incredibly ageing.'
Prof Tobin said sunscreen has decades of scientific backing, and added: 'It originated in Western Australia, where they have a very high skin cancer rate. There's good evidence to show that it works. Skin cancer is entirely preventable. Unlike certain cancers, like colon cancer, you can completely avoid it.'
She said the rates continue to be 'very high' in Ireland, despite the availability of sunscreen for several decades.
One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma in later life,' she added.