Do sunscreens cause skin cancer?

Answer

Dear Mario

That is not true. I want to argue that with three facts.

1. Excessive exposure to UV radiation (eg from the sun or tanning bed) can cause (skin) cancer. This has been demonstrated using animal models and epidemiological research. One sees, for example, more occurrence of malignant skin tumors in women who sun more often excessively. Also in areas with more solar radiation one often sees a higher incidence of skin cancers in the population (depending on, among other things, race). Long-term and high concentrations of UV radiation are certainly harmful, period. You get these higher concentrations especially during the summer months during the afternoon hours. Outside this period, concentrations may not be high enough to cause harm.

2. We need sunlight. It ensures the production of vitamin D and that stimulates a number of life processes. Our body will generally be healthier if it can receive regular sunlight. (Sun)light also does us good psychologically.

3. It is not always clear which cosmetic products are harmful to the body and which are not. In principle, all the cosmetics available on our market have been sufficiently tested. But … there is a golden rule here: avoid excessive and long-term use of the same substances over and over. It gets a bit more difficult when it comes to sunscreens. In principle, these are also cosmetics with perhaps a few less healthy ingredients, but they do contain a filter to protect us against the harmful influences of UV radiation. So here it is a difficult balance not to make excessive use of any harmful ingredients and to protect ourselves against UV radiation. In any case, I see the protective effects of sunscreens much more than the possibly harmful influences of certain ingredients.

The article you cite contains valid points, but at the same time a lot of nonsense. Reference is made to a book ‘Sunscreens – Biohazard’ and the title of that book is scientifically completely incorrect. Biohazard means harmful substance originating from a biological agent (eg an infectious virus). Sun creams are not biological at all, but they are of chemical origin. Such a gross error in the title already makes me frown at the content of the book, although I am not familiar with it.

Conclusion:
The sun does us good, but excessive sunbathing is harmful. Avoid too much and prolonged sunlight during the afternoon hours during the summer months. Finding a shaded spot is the easiest solution for that (and you’ll still get enough light for your body’s health). If that is not possible (eg on the beach), a good protective sun cream is an absolute must, but also use these things wisely.

Also take a look at the link on the left with more information about healthy sunbathing (Foundation against Cancer).

I wish you a pleasant and healthy summer.