Health experts pushback on anti-sunscreen TikTok trend

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The TikTok trend that has convinced many that sunscreen contains harmful chemicals is receiving pushback from health and skin experts in Rockford.

“Not only is burn bad, but just constant UV exposure,” said Rockford Dermatology’s Dr. LaKimerly Coates. “We found both of those things increase our risk for basal cell, for squamous cell melanoma, all of those cancers and especially squamous cell is on the rise in terms of becoming the most deadly skin cancer.”

To protect your health, Coates said sunscreen is one of the best options, but that advice has come under question on social media recently as some influencers claim the product could be causing cancer.

OSF Physician Dr. Hayley Ralph said the claims are centered around chemical-based sunscreens that contain ingredients like oxybenzone and homosalate.

“Some of the criticism has been, does it somehow get absorbed through your skin into your bloodstream? Does it because it’s a chemical type of sunscreen? Does it somehow affect us in the long run? And right now, so far, as far as we can tell, scientific data hasn’t told us that anything is positive or negative as far as the kind of chemical sunscreens go,” said Ralph.

Both Coates and Ralph said opting to not use any sunscreen is far more risky than using chemical-based sunscreens. Both do recommend using mineral-based sunscreens if you are concerned about chemical-based products.

“The mineral-based sunscreens are great. We have titanium, we have zinc, and basically, there are minerals that we apply to our skin that don’t absorb,” said Coates. “So it’s one of these things where it’s a barrier protection or a physical block. Basically, the UV rays just kind of bounce off of them.”

Coates said to look for sunscreens with the top ingredient containing either zinc, titanium or a combination of both is safe and effective for all ages.

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