False claims about sunscreen gaining traction online
- Misleading claims suggesting that sunscreen causes rather than protects against skin cancer are circulating online as Europe experiences record-breaking temperatures.
- Influencers and podcasters are promoting the idea that sunscreen contains “toxic” chemicals and that its increased use correlates with rising skin cancer rates.
- Experts, including cosmetic chemists and dermatologists, refute these claims, saying that there is no evidence that sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer.
- They say that the rise in skin cancer rates is attributed to factors such as an ageing population, improved detection methods, and incorrect application of sunscreen, not the product itself.
- Sunscreens in both the UK and US are subject to stringent safety and efficacy regulations.
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