The widespread misinformation regarding sunscreen is concerning. As the nation’s leading non-profit dedicated to significantly reducing the incidence of melanoma in the United States and saving lives, IMPACT Melanoma will not put its head in the sand and ignore the misinformation that risks lives, especially young lives.
Use of sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher reduces the risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, by as much as 50%. All credible, leading organizations throughout the United States encourage sunscreen use as one of several ways to protect against harmful UV rays known to cause skin cancer. This includes the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD), The Skin Cancer Foundation, Center for Disease Control (CDC), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a recent Stanford University Report written in response to recent articles and concerns about sunscreen safety.
Sunscreen in the US as Compared to Other Countries
As the Stanford Report shares, other countries are more advanced in the ingredients being used in sunscreen. In the United States, all sunscreens are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter products to ensure they meet safety and effectiveness standards. Approval in the United States for new UV-blocking chemicals that are already available in other countries is slow and expensive. As a result, the US has fallen behind countries like those in the European Union, where sunscreens can be more quickly approved for sale as a cosmetic, and newer sunscreen ingredients such as Tinosorb, Mexoryl, and Uvinul are widely used. While available sunscreen products differ from those in other countries, there is widespread agreement that the sunscreens currently available in the US are effective in lowering risk of skin cancer and in reducing aging. While we look forward to such ingredients being approved for use in the United States, the unfortunate reality is we are not there yet. But that does not make our sunscreen products unsafe.
What to look for in sunscreen:
As has been widely covered in various articles, not all sunscreens are created equal. The American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) recommends optimal sunscreens that effectively limit UV light exposure should include three components:
(1) broad-spectrum protection
(2) water resistance for 40 to 80 minutes
(3) a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or greater
The facts support wearing sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. A survey completed by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, found that 1 in 7 American adults under age 35 believe using sunscreen daily is more harmful than direct sun exposure. That’s troubling, because melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults, notes Dr. Rajesh Nair, a surgical oncologist with the institute who helped craft the survey.
“We’re seeing an increasing number of young and middle-aged adults with not only skin cancers, but advanced stage skin cancers,” Nair says.
Unfortunately, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and yet is the most preventable. Skin cancer is the second highest form of cancer among 15-29-year-olds and the risk of this misinformation regarding sunscreen is more people dying unnecessarily.
NPR recently published an informative article regarding rampant misinformation about sunscreen, including quoting dermatologist Heather Rogers as she shared the information being spread is ‘just plain wrong’. Rogers also addressed and explained the misinformation regarding the belief that sunscreen use is more dangerous than the risks of not using sunscreen.
Rogers says some of the hesitation about using sunscreen stems from research that found chemical sunscreens can be absorbed in the bloodstream at levels higher than previously thought, and that should be studied further. Despite those unknowns, she says, “The risks with chemical sunscreens have not been shown in humans. And I think that’s really important to lead with.”
Similar to Rogers’ perspective regarding research not showing findings affecting humans, another research study completed by a nonprofit advocacy group, Environmental Working Group (EWG), raised concerns about certain chemical ingredients used in sunscreen while citing links to health risks in mice. In this particular study, experts caution that the report leaves out key research findings. “They used a fraction of the literature out there to determine safety,” said Adam Friedman, MD a dermatologist at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
“Two JAMA studies cited by the report, for instance, found that various UV filters — the chemicals in sunscreens that absorb or block sunlight — could be detected in people’s blood after repeated application, but neither study showed effects on the body, “Friedman said.
“The reality is, whether it be human safety or even environmental safety, there are tons of studies showing the safety of the very few organic and mineral filters that we have,” said Friedman. “Also there’s tons of longitudinal data showing that the sunscreens we have, the ingredients we have, can protect against accelerated skin aging and skin cancer.”
Conclusion – Melanoma is Deadly and Skin Cancer is a Real Cancer
People in the United States can take action to protect their skin, their body’s largest organ, from the most preventable cancer in our country: skin cancer. On average, one person dies in the US every hour from melanoma, skin cancer’s deadliest form. Prevention includes wearing sunscreen (preferably 30 SPF or higher); wearing a wide brimmed hat, protective sunglasses, and protecting clothing; and seeking shade when the UV index is higher than 3.
It is our hope that more Americans, including young adults, find a sunscreen product that they like and suits their lifestyle to become a daily habit. As The Skin Cancer Foundation reiterates, the best sunscreen for you is the one you are most likely to use whether motivated by health, skin appearance, or both.
Whatever the motivator, we are passionate about increasing awareness, promoting prevention and early detection and saving lives and hope that our youth in America make informed decisions to avoid the real dangers that affect millions of people in our country. As the Stanford Report summarized: sunscreen is a safe, essential tool for preventing skin cancer, and the effects of aging on our skin. In fact, their report also included the need for people to use more of it.
Learn more about Melanoma Facts.
