Does Sunscreen Cause Skin Cancer? Metro Asked an Expert

Photo: Pexels/Retha Ferguson

It is common knowledge that sunscreen is essential in preventing skin cancer. At least, that is what you would think. More and more people think that sunscreen actually causes skin cancer. Where does this idea come from? And more importantly: is it true? Metro asked Sven van Egmond, supervisor of the National Skin Fund, co-founder of the Skin Cancer Foundation and a doctor in training to become a dermatologist.

With the high temperatures and associated high solar power , the risk of sunburn is currently extra high. Yet more and more people are swearing off sunscreen. A survey by Independer this week showed that 45 percent of Dutch people believe that sunscreen actually causes skin cancer. A worrying development, says Sven van Egmond.

Van Egmond emphasizes that you absolutely cannot get skin cancer from sunscreen. "A colleague of mine came up with a nice metaphor for this. People with a bulletproof vest are more often admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds. That is not because the bulletproof vest causes gunshot wounds, but because people with a bulletproof vest are more often in situations where they are shot at. It is the same with people who apply sunscreen. People who apply sunscreen are often also people who seek out the sun and sunscreen does not protect 100 percent against skin cancer."

He continues: "Factor 50 blocks about 98 percent of UV radiation, provided you apply it regularly and use it enough. If you go swimming or sweat in the meantime, it doesn't work as well and you can burn faster. That increases the risk of skin cancer. It has nothing to do with the sunscreen, but with the UV radiation."

The claim that the chemicals in sunscreen are harmful to your skin and health is also incorrect, according to Sven van Egmond. "That misconception is mainly due to a study in which rats were fed very high concentrations of certain substances in sunscreen," he explains. "Those high concentrations turned out to be bad for rats. But if you apply sunscreen yourself, only very low concentrations are absorbed by the skin, which are not harmful. If you are still concerned about this - which is not necessary - you can always use sunscreen with mineral filters." These are sunscreen products that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Cancer Society also emphasizes that sunscreen does not contain any ingredients that are carcinogenic. "There are strict safety requirements under European legislation. This states that carcinogenic substances are prohibited in cosmetics. Sunscreens are also subjected to additional checks by a safety assessor. This assesses whether the substances used in the product are safe. So you can use sunscreens safely."

That there are still so many misconceptions about sunburn, something that Sven is very annoyed about. "I see a lot of elderly people with skin cancer in the clinic myself. And they often say 'I wish I had known earlier that the sun wasn't good for you'. In the past, people would really lie in the sun with oil to get as tan as possible and they are only now seeing the consequences of that," explains the supervisor of the National Skin Fund.

“That is also the problem with skin cancer, that you often only experience the problems of your sun behavior after 20 or 30 years. For many young people it is therefore a far-fetched idea, while almost 1000 people die of skin cancer in the Netherlands each year.” These figures do not seem to deter young people yet. Van Egmond: “What motivates young people more to apply sunscreen is that sunscreen is the best anti-wrinkle cream there is. UV radiation causes skin aging and that is also an important reason to always apply sunscreen.”

Whether you apply expensive or cheap sunscreen does not matter that much, according to Van Egmond. "It does not matter for the SPF that is stated on it, because that is regulated by law. Cheap sunscreen products therefore protect just as well, but many people opt for a more expensive version, because they find it more pleasant to apply or smell. Only with expensive sunscreen is there the risk that you will also apply less because it is often so expensive. That is why I would recommend getting a cheap sunscreen and applying it often." In addition, the doctor in training also recommends a cream rather than a spray. "A spray should work just as well, but it often applies thinner, so you have to spray more often."

He also urges people to regularly repeat the application of sunscreen. “We always say, protection, clothes and sunscreen. If the sun power is 3 or higher, which you can see in every weather app these days, then you should seek shade and not sit in the sun. That is protection. Clothes means that you wear covering clothing and that you apply sunscreen to everything that is not covered every 2 hours with at least factor 30. Use seven teaspoons and spread it on your skin with peanut butter thickness.”

Prevention is better than cure. “Every year, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer. It is now the case that 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer. As a result, healthcare is also starting to overflow, we are getting longer waiting times, while it is something that is so easy to prevent. If there was a cream that could prevent breast cancer, everyone would use it, but skin cancer is still very underestimated.”

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