“Sun cream causes cancer”

[Soubriquet]

I nearly got involved with this on Facebook before realising there was no point and walked away.

I mean….how do you argue with people who genuinely believe stuff like this?

It wouldn't surprise me at all if it turns out to be contributing factor.

I still use it when necessary, but I'd rather stay in the shade/cover up when I can.

All the research re the need for repeated applications, the "danger" of small amounts of sun exposure and the products' safety is funded by the skin care industry, just as what we used to think of a healthy eating, low fat/high carb, was funded by the food/sugar industry, afterall.

There's a place for sunscreen, no doubt, but I'm not convinced it's as necessary or as safe as they'd have you believe.

I'd say that you just can't argue with stupid, so like you, I wouldn't bother trying.

Obviously we should all limit our exposure to very strong sun and use sun cream when needed. It needs to be reapplied fairly regularly too, particularly after swimming.

Of course there could be chemicals in sun cream that turn out to be risky, but strong radiation from the sun itself has to be far worse. Especially if you get actual sunburn. That can be extremely serious.

I believe it's much better to cover up/ stay in the shade than it is to cover yourself in suncream. So if the argument is that suncream entices people out into the sun when they'd be better off sitting in the shade, then I imagine there's something in it. If the idea is that it's better to go out in the sun without suncream on, firstly they clearly don't have my skin (I'd be utterly miserable from sunburn afterwards) and secondly, no it's not.

Most of the 'sun team causes cancer' posts are from people who also believe that sunbathing is good for you (especially if you HAVE cancer) and sunbeds are healthy too.

Add on being covid deniers / NWO fear / Chem trails / Clinton's are murderers and you get the gist of where their heads are at.

Idiots the lot of them

*gingersplodgecat
There really are some stupid people in the world, aren't there?

What next - learning to swim makes you drown?

In a funny way it does. People who can't swim tend to stay away from water. People who can swim are more likely to over estimate their confidence or get into difficulty in open water and are more likely to drown.*

Yes - in my life I've known 3 people who drowned. All while swimming.

There has been some research and some concerns around the chemicals in certain sunscreens. It doesn't mean that getting burnt is preferable. Shade, hats, sunglasses, loose clothing that covers (especially on shoulders)... I do these things instead. Rarely wear sunscreen, rarely get burnt.

Quite and sunscreen could well be the same. People spending time in the sun, who would be in the shade/covered up without it.

On a similar line, I read yday on a chat forum that factor 50 protects less than factor 30 and factor 50 makes you burn from the inside out, because it's waxier. Apparently factor 50 made the writer's children burn (as opposed to the sun!).
I worry about humanity.

That's a coincidence - I came across exactly the same comments today on a Harvard article about sunbathing (I was looking for a comfortable way to sunbathe on my front 😳). I have no idea if it's true or not, but what I also saw today on the BBC was a test showing some suncream doesn't have anywhere near the spf it claimed. Feels like a minefield.

I never wear sun cream. I got skin cancer.
How would they explain that one to me? 😂

Many of the chemicals in sunscreen are endocrine disrupters like oxybenzone. This chemical has been linked to some cancers. My preference is a mineral based cream like one with zinc oxide.

This.

We’ve switched to mineral sun cream.

It’s just another example of valid scientific findings losing traction because some people deliberately misinterpret them and then anyone saying they’re true is a weirdo.

@Tadpoll and @Backofthenet20 in the test they did on the BBC this morning the mineral-based ones were the ones that didn't provide anywhere near the SPF they said they did, so worth being cautious.

I just admit the one I’ve switched to doesn’t seem as strong. But we never let ourselves burn anyway.

At some point in the future my children can be used as a study as one avoids sun and sun cream and the other wears cream and goes out in the sun. (Only the sunscreen wearer has ever burned by badly applying it)

Appreciate the heads up. I live in California with sun all year round. I use MadHippie 40+ Zinc oxide. The published study showed less than 10% of mineral based products didn’t meet the claim. To be honest I am ok with slightly less protection & not putting endocrine disrupters on my skin.

Can anyone recommend a mineral sunscreen suitable for very fair skin please? I don't wear suncream (I avoid sun and cover up) but I'd like my children to. I burnt dreadfully as a child despite using lots of suncream, I wouldn't be surprised if I get skin cancer as a result. Burns in childhood are a significant contributing factor.

I don't think suncream causes more cancer than sun burn, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that chemical suncream does cause some cancers.

I don't like laying in the sun and try to cover up as much as possible while also staying comfortable. I wear a rash vest in the pool and sea myself when abroad or on a hot UK summer day. Heat wise, the current UK heat wave is more than enough for me!

I have faur skin and a diagnosed sun allergy so have to be very careful I the sun anyway and so I have to be selective with the sun cream I use and need it to be reliable.

But I also love travelling and the beauty of some hot countries, as well as the sea and water based activities, but wetsuits are handy there. I just try to find a balance.

Eye protection is very important too as eyes can be badly affected by the sun. Hats and decent sunglasses are crucial.

I do wonder what impact global warming and cheaper and more frequent foreign travel (unlike Covid at least) which must have led to increased chemical sun cream use will have on individuals and the planet long term.