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Sunscreen vs. Skin Cancer
- Snigdha Suresh
- Jul 13
- 1 min read
Sunscreen is probably one of the most misunderstood products. There is a popular misconception that sunscreen causes skin cancer. Sunscreen is a product designed to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. There are mainly two types of sunscreens.
Physical blockers: These blockers contain one or two active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They reflect UV rays from the sun.
Chemical blockers: They contain chemicals that absorb the sun’s UV rays. These chemicals include aminobenzoic acid, oxybenzone, octocrylene etc.
The concerns regarding the chemical oxybenzone started with a 2001 research study on rats. The rats were fed over 1,500mg of oxybenzone per day. It would take humans 277 years of applying sunscreen to reach that dosage. Many were worried as it may act as a hormone disruptor. There has been no positive correlation between the chemical and the human body’s hormone production.
Not wearing sunscreen could actually be more harmful. Wearing sunscreen can actually prevent cancers. Studies show that squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer, has reduced by 40% over the last few years with the help of sunscreen.
In conclusion, we must avoid exposing our skin to the sun. Sunscreen is made for all skin colours. Applying a sunscreen that suits your skin type can protect your skin.
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