Are we asking the wrong questions sunscreen and its impact on the skin?

In an Instagram reel, a man claimed that slowly building sun exposure without sunscreen could boost immunity.

On YouTube, others promoted homemade sunscreen recipes that used oils, butters, or other natural ingredients.

For years, doctors have stressed the importance of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer and protecting people from harmful UV rays. But an anti-sunscreen trend had grown on social media. It caused confusion about its benefits and worried health experts, who warned that skipping sunscreen increased long-term risks.

How sunscreen worked and what it contained

Sunscreen protects the skin by absorbing or blocking UV rays that cause burns, early aging, and skin cancer. Most products were either chemical or mineral.

Chemical sunscreens used ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octocrylene to absorb UV rays and turn them into heat before they reach the skin.
Mineral sunscreens, made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, blocked the rays physically.

Why were people skeptical

More Americans were questioning the safety of everyday products, driven by mistrust in health advice, drug companies, and regulators. Supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement have revived concerns about sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone and titanium dioxide, according to The Washington Post.

Some people preferred “natural” options after experiencing skin irritation from regular sunscreen. Others stopped using it completely. Homemade creams and mineral-based products gained popularity.

Summer Whiteside, 31, an ER nurse from California, called herself a “MAHA mom” and said she had voted for Trump so Kennedy could take office. After hearing him on Joe Rogan’s podcast, she said she trusted him. On Instagram, she posted about using beef tallow for sunburn relief and opting for mineral sunscreen. She covered her kids with rash guards and only used sunscreen on their faces.

Some wellness figures claimed that diet changes or slowly increasing sun exposure could prevent burns — advice that doctors strongly rejected. Others pointed to studies suggesting sunscreen chemicals could cause cancer. Experts said no human research had proven this.

Henry W. Lim, a top dermatologist, explained that oxybenzone had been used since the 1970s without proven harm. Many safety concerns arose from animal studies involving extremely high doses that didn’t accurately reflect real-life use.

What experts and science showed

Doctors warned that anti-sunscreen messages could harm the public because skin cancer was still one of the most common cancers. Decades of research have shown that sunscreen reduces that risk.

In the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial in Australia, over 1,600 people were tracked for 10 years. Those who used sunscreen daily had fewer cases of melanoma than those who didn’t. Another large study in Norway found that SPF 15 or higher reduced melanoma risk by 33% compared to little or no sunscreen use, as reported by The Washington Post.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommended SPF 30 or higher daily, even on cloudy days. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide were considered safe.

Dermatologist Veena Vanchinathan stated that there was no evidence to suggest that small amounts of sunscreen chemicals absorbed by the body were hazardous. She worried more about people skipping sunscreen or using ineffective things like coconut oil or beef tallow.

Why the US had fewer sunscreen options

The FDA regulated sunscreen, but its rules had not been updated since 1999. Newer ingredients available in Europe and Asia were still waiting for approval in the U.S.

This slow process frustrated doctors and led some people to import sunscreen or make it themselves — something experts warned against. “You wouldn’t make Tylenol in your bathtub,” said dermatologist Adam Friedman. “You can’t match the safety and testing of professional sunscreen.”

Other countries approved new sunscreen filters faster by using different rules. Some groups advocated for the US to expedite reviews or adopt global standards.

Doctors agreed that the science supported daily sunscreen use. They warned that the danger of skipping it was far greater than any concern about ingredients.