MPs to target online personalities spouting anti-suncream misinformation as 'dangerous' movement grips TikTok
Social media influencers who spout anti-suncream messages and plug potentially dangerous tanning products are set to face a crackdown by MPs.
A parliamentary inquiry will target TikTok and Instagram personalities who do paid promotions for oils and lotions without including their health risks.
It will also call for greater regulator powers to curb influencers peddling sun protection factor (SPF) conspiracy theories, push for health warnings on oils and sunbeds, and look at the affordability of SPF products and advocate for them to be exempt from VAT.
It comes as an anti-suncream movement has gained traction on TikTok, with viral posts claiming sun protection is the same as 'rubbing cancer into your skin'.
Some TikTok stars have even posted recipes for 'DIY suncream', which experts warn may not properly protect against damaging UV light.
MPs are calling for the Advertising Standards Authority to be empowered to tackle the messages put out by 'dangerous' social media influencers, saying that the current regulations have not kept up with the modern world.
The British Beauty Council, which is backing the campaign and is set to give its recommendations to the
Government and industry next year, said: 'Misinformation and disinformation are rife across media platforms with little challenge or recourse.'
Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty and Wellbeing, said: 'It is vital that the public understands the dangers of UV, and the risks that they are taking to get a tan.'
She added the inquiry will look at the risk and 'impact of over-exposure' to sunlight as well as how to educate people on the subject to 'prevent a public health crisis'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
I had triplets in my baby scan but ended up with just one baby – after my son ‘ate his siblings in the womb'
A MUM has revealed how she thought she was pregnant with triplets, but one of the babies 'ate' his siblings in the womb. TikTok user @vfbabygirl28 shared how she went on an emotional rollercoaster during her pregnancy. 3 In a video which has racked up over a million likes, she firstly shared how she had been told she was having twins at her first baby scan. However, this changed when she went back in for her second. She wrote: 'Goes for a second scan and find out I'm having triplets.' The third scan was the most surprising of all - as two of the siblings disappeared completely. The shocked mum wrote: 'Goes to the third scan to check the triplets, but this guy just casually ate his siblings. 'Holyf***ingairball.' She then shared a photo of her newborn baby, who appeared to be healthy. People were shocked when they heard the story, with one person asking: 'Wait how does a baby eat another baby?' One person in the comments was quick to explain, and said: 'There are two possible reasons for this.' They shared: 'In early pregnancy, multiple embryos can start developing (like twins or triplets), but then one or more stop growing and just get absorbed by the mother's body or the remaining fetus. 'I keep thinking I can't get any bigger' exhausted mum-to-be sighs as she leaves people 'wincing' with her GIANT bump 'This is more common.' It's also known as Vanishing twin syndrome, where one of the fetuses dies and is reabsorbed into the other twin, the placenta, or the mother's body. Twin resorption can often occur early in the pregnancy, often in the first trimester, and can go unnoticed without routine ultrasound examinations. 3 The second explanation, according to viewers, could be Human Chimera, which is rarer. The person continued: 'If two embryos fuse very early in development, they combine into one person with two sets of DNA and they become a chimera. 'If that's the case, the baby might have patches of skin with different DNA, two blood types; or have a set of DNA in one organ that's different from the rest of their body. People were quick to comment on the video, with one saying: 'God forbid a baby cares about the family economy.' A second added: 'He really wanted to be an only child.'
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Coronation Street star rushed to A&E for urgent blood transfusion after struggling to breathe
A CORONATION Street star has revealed her health issue after she was rushed to A&E for an urgent blood transfusion. Struggling to breathe two years ago, Lucy-Jo Hudson, 42, was rushed to hospital before being diagnosed with chronic anaemia. 6 6 Taking to Instagram on Tuesday night, the former Corrie star, who played Katy Harris in the hit ITV soap, shared a photo of her in a hospital bed. "Not my usual post," Lucy-Jo penned in the caption. She then said: "But with it being National Blood Week I wanted to share something with you." Opening up about her hospital dash, Lucy-Jo explained: "2 years ago I was rushed into A&E. "I was constantly exhausted, running on empty, struggling to breath, low mood, really struggling in my overall mental and physical health, and I just put it down to the fast pace of life. "Because in today's world you're expected to be able to juggle it all right? "And the daily stresses of being a working mum, and spinning a million plates is blumming stressful….." She then added: "But what I didn't realise is that the reason I was feeling all of this is because I had an underlying health issue…. Chronic Anaemia." Lucy-Jo then revealed that this meant she was "in desperate need of a blood transfusion". Going into even more detail, she said: "It turned out that my haemoglobin levels were that dangerously low I needed 2 transfusions and I was kept in hospital for a few days so they could keep on eye on my levels." Hollyoaks star Lucy-Jo Hudson stunned as she lands new acting job Speaking about the medical team that treated her, Lucy praised the staff at Salford Royal Hospital and gushed over how "amazing" they were. "I really felt I was in the best hands, especially Dr Rob Jackson, he was unbelievable and I'll always be so grateful to him and his team in the A&E department," she said. Lucy-Jo then thanked everyone who donates blood, saying: "I know from the NHS that just one of your donations can save up to 3 lives.... Mine included." She went on: "Blood donations save lives every day, they are needed in emergencies, during operations, childbirth, in the treatment of cancer and sickle cell disease, the list is endless. What is Anaemia? According to the NHS, Anaemia is a common condition "where the number of red blood cells or the amount of haemoglobin in red blood cells is less than normal". Symptoms of Aneamia: Fatigue/tiredness Shortness of breath Dizziness Fast heartbeat or sensation of the heart beating in the chest (palpitations) Pounding or 'ringing' in your ears Headache Cold hands or feet Pale or yellow skin Chest pain Lack of concentration Sore tongue or mouth ulcers Irritability Source: NHS "So this is a thank you to those selflessly giving blood that helped me and thousands of other people who really needed it." Fans were quick to show support for the former soap star in the comments section. One person wrote: "Oh bless you, how awful!! So glad you okay now." Another said: "Holy hell!! So glad you're ok now Lucy. And this is an amazing post!" While a third penned: "The NHS does an amazing job & is never given any the praise it deserves, I'm glad you're ok xx." And a fourth added: "Wonderful to share LucyJo! So glad you are doing so well! Xxx." 6 6
Medical News Today
16 minutes ago
- Medical News Today
Healthy aging: Eating more berries, flavanoids may be key
A new study has found a link between consuming more berries and healthier aging. Vera Lair/Stocksy As people are living longer, there is a greater emphasis on healthy aging. Diet is one aspect that can contribute to healthier aging. A new study found that consuming more foods and beverages rich in flavonoids may help lower a person's risk of certain aspects of unhealthy aging, such as frailty and poor mental health. People are living longer than ever before. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people globally ages 60 and over is expected to jump from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion in 2030, to 2.1 billion by 2050. Additionally, the number of centenarians—people aged 100 years or more—is expected to reach almost 4 million by 2054. With people expected to live for longer, there has been a research emphasis on finding ways to ensure they age in a healthy way, with a high quality of life and free of major disease. 'As people live longer, we want to ensure they stay healthy and independent for as long as possible,' Nicola Bondonno, PhD, post-doctoral researcher at the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, told Medical News Today . 'Finding natural, everyday ways to support healthy aging, like through diet, offers a low-cost, accessible approach that can have a big impact on quality of life and reduce pressure on healthcare systems.' Bondonno is the first author of a new study recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found consuming more foods and beverages rich in the phytochemical compound flavonoids may help lower a person's risk of certain aspects of unhealthy aging, such as frailty and poor mental health. Flavonoids are found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods, such as: Berries like blueberries and raspberries Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit Dark chocolate Fruits such as peaches and bananas Green and black tea Leafy greens such as kale and spinach Red wine Vegetables such as peas, onions, and tomatoes '(Flavonoids are) what give many plants their vibrant colors, but they also seem to have health-promoting properties,' Bondonno said. 'We focused on flavonoids because our previous research suggests they may protect against chronic diseases. 'Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help protect the body's cells from damage as we age. They also support blood vessel health and may help preserve muscle and brain function. While not all flavonoids work in the same way, many appear to support the body's systems that tend to decline with age.' — Nicola Bondonno, PhD Health data included the amount of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages study participants consumed, as well as information on their incident frailty, physical function, and mental health. At the study's conclusion, scientists found that female study participants with the highest flavonoid intake had a 15% lower risk of frailty, as well as a 12% lesser chance of impaired physical function. 'These findings suggest that diets rich in flavonoid-containing foods may help older women maintain strength and mobility as they age — key factors in staying independent, avoiding falls, and preserving overall quality of life,' Bondonno explained. 'Even modest improvements like these can make a real difference in someone's ability to live well into older age.' These same female participants also experienced a 12% lower risk of having poor mental health. Improved mental health 'Women with the highest flavonoid intake had a 12% lower risk of having evidence of mental health concerns such as feeling low, lacking energy, or having depressive symptoms. This finding is important because it shows that what we eat may play a role in supporting not just our physical health, but our emotional and psychological well-being as we age.' — Nicola Bondonno, PhD Interestingly, Bondonno and her team did not find that high consumption of flavonoid-rich foods impact male participants in the same way it did female participants. While male study participants with the highest flavonoid intake experienced a 15% decrease in their risk of poor mental health, there was no benefit when it came to lowering frailty or impaired physical function risks. Men vs. women 'It's possible that the difference we saw between men and women has more to do with how the study was structured than a true biological difference. The men were followed for a shorter period of time, so we may not have had enough data to detect certain effects. More research is needed to understand whether men and women truly respond differently to flavonoids.' — Nicola Bondonno, PhD 'Our next steps are to explore the two-way relationship between flavonoids and well-being — looking not only at how flavonoids may support mental health, but also how a person's well-being might influence their intake of flavonoid-rich foods,' she continued. 'We also plan to continue investigating how these foods can be used to support healthy aging and help people live longer, disease-free lives.' MNT had the opportunity to speak with Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, director of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center and co-director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study. 'Flavonoids are potent antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects,' Parulekar said. 'Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are considered key drivers of aging and age-related diseases. By potentially slowing down these processes, flavonoids could theoretically slow down negative aspects of aging.' Parulekar said that lifestyle modifications to improve the aging process through diet offer a proactive, accessible, and potentially transformative approach to promoting healthy longevity for everyone. 'It represents a shift towards preventative healthcare and empowers individuals to take an active role in shaping their own health trajectory,' she continued. 'Focusing on diet promotes a more holistic approach to health, addressing the root causes of aging-related decline rather than just treating symptoms. Dietary changes often have positive ripple effects on other aspects of health, such as weight management, energy levels, and mood.' For readers who would like to add more flavonoids to their diet, we asked Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, for her top tips. 'Flavonoids, including the six subtypes related to dietary sources — anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, and isoflavones — have been attributed to protecting cell degradation from oxidative stress and free radicals, as well as being anti-inflammatory due to their concentrated antioxidant levels. They also can act as a chelator (binder) to oxidizing effects of metal ions like zinc, iron, and copper.' — Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN Richard encouraged readers to consider the numerous foods rich in flavonoids and consider where they may be able to be added throughout the day and week. 'When you think of 'flavonoids' think of flavor and see how adding some flare to your daily foods can punch up their benefit and appeal,' she continued. 'Also keep in mind the benefit and bioavailability varies by food and per person — keeping the diet diverse and varied is key.' Richard said a sample diet featuring three servings of flavonol-rich foods a day may look like: Breakfast: A cup of green tea or a smoothie with berries A cup of green tea or a smoothie with berries Lunch: A lean protein atop a salad with kale, apples, walnuts, Gorgonzola, and balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing (with chives and garlic) A lean protein atop a salad with kale, apples, walnuts, Gorgonzola, and balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing (with chives and garlic) Dinner: 4 ounces of fatty cold water fish such as salmon or tilapia, topped with a strawberry salsa, 3/4 cup roasted sweet potatoes and 2/3 cup long grain rice, 2 ounces dark chocolate, and 5 ounces red wine or grape juice Nutrition / Diet Seniors / Aging
