misinformation about sun protection on the Internet can be extremely dangerous

Based on data from a new US national survey, Rajesh Nair, a surgical oncologist at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, and his team found that young people tend to believe myths and misinformation about sun protection. 14 percent 18-35 year olds believe that sunscreen is more dangerous than exposure to sunlight.

“People believe in a lot of really dangerous ideas that put them at additional risk,” Nair said.

“The main troubling message I see being spread is that the flaws in sunscreen are so dire that it’s better to take a huge risk not only of melanoma, but of many other types of skin cancer,” Nair said. “We are dealing with melanoma much more often among young people, and a simple sunscreen can help prevent life-threatening problems.”

In addition to misinformation about the safety of sunscreens, the study also highlighted several worrying trends that promise “natural” sun protection. For example, almost 1 in 4 people under the age of 35 believe that drinking water prevents sunburn.

“There is no scientific data that drinking water protects from the Sun in any way,” said R. Nair.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with as many as 3 million skin cancers diagnosed each year. people. The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, which kills the vast majority of people with skin cancer.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of melanoma cases in the US since 1999 has is constantly increasing. And while the risk of melanoma increases with age, it is the third most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in people aged 25-39.

Most skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. However, only about 1 in 8 men and 1 in 3 women over the age of 18 use sunscreen when outside for more than an hour on a sunny day.

“I think a lot of people don’t like how sunscreen affects their skin. Especially for those with naturally oily skin, sunscreen can aggravate the skin or lead to breakouts. Also, there are certain chemicals that some sunscreens contain that are of concern. But the most important thing is that the benefits provided by sun protection measures far outweigh their disadvantages,” said R. Nair.

In the U.S., sunscreens are classified as over-the-counter drugs—which means they must be closely monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Two common sunscreen ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium oxide, have been proven to be universally safe and effective. However, a further 12 ingredients, including avobenzone, oxybenzone and homosalate, have not been granted this status – because there is “insufficient data to support their safety”.

That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe, but if in doubt, there are plenty of mineral-based sunscreens that don’t contain these chemicals.

“There are two main types of sunscreen: barrier and chemical. Barrier sunscreens remain on the surface of the skin and reflect harmful UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and convert the radiation into heat, which is then dissipated. Chemical sunscreens are usually slightly longer lasting and sweat and water resistant. Barrier sunscreens usually cause less concern about the toxicity of the chemicals they contain,” R. Nair taught.

The dangers of not using sunscreen are far greater than any potential concerns about the ingredients in the cream. It is also important to use sunscreen correctly.

“It is important to apply sun protection cream long before the planned stay outside,” said R. Nair. – It takes at least 15 minutes for your skin to really absorb the sunscreen and provide the desired protection. Another thing we all forget is re-lubrication. Sunscreen should be applied at least every two hours and must be reapplied if you get wet or sweaty.”

R. Nair also advised to follow the following recommendations:

“We don’t want to discourage people from being outdoors and being active because it has many health benefits, but it’s also important to know that sun protection can save lives, and the only effective way to protect yourself is to limit your skin’s exposure to UV radiation,” said Nair. .

Adapted from Newsweek.