{"id":8359,"date":"2024-07-11T20:25:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T20:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/?p=8359"},"modified":"2024-07-30T13:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T13:57:47","slug":"sunscreen-does-not-cause-skin-cancer-dr-sarnoff-wants-you-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/sunscreen-does-not-cause-skin-cancer-dr-sarnoff-wants-you-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunscreen Does NOT Cause Skin Cancer: Dr. Sarnoff Wants You to Know","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Our president, Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is here to set the record straight. Sunscreen does NOT cause skin cancer; sunscreen, as part of a complete sun protection strategy, helps to PREVENT skin cancer. Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA for the safety and efficacy of ingredients.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Dr. Sarnoff:<\/strong> There is absolutely no evidence that sunscreen<\/a> causes skin cancer<\/a>. This claim is false, it has no scientific basis and worse yet, it endangers public health<\/span><\/p>\n

What we do know with 100% certainty is that the <\/span>main cause of most skin cancers<\/span><\/b> is unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation<\/a> from the sun or tanning beds<\/a>. Sun exposure causes DNA damage in skin cells. That damage can cause mutations that lead to skin cancer. That is a fact.<\/span><\/p>\n

FACT:<\/span><\/b> Unprotected exposure to UV radiation causes about 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 percent of melanomas. Further, UV radiation is a proven human carcinogen.<\/span><\/p>\n

FACT: <\/span><\/b>S<\/span>unscreen, as part of a complete sun protection strategy, helps to\u202f<\/b>prevent<\/i><\/b>\u202f<\/b>skin cancer. Two studies showed that in people who used sunscreen every day, melanoma was reduced by 50 percent and squamous cell carcinoma by 40 percent.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s worthwhile to note that if you use sunscreen regularly now, but have a history of sun damage, you could be diagnosed with skin cancer due to that previous damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line is that if you stop using sunscreen, you increase your risk of skin cancer and sun damage. Using sunscreen and reapplying every two hours, wearing wide-brimmed hats to cover your face, ears and neck, using sunglasses to protect your eyes<\/a>, covering up with clothing and seeking shade are all easy ways to protect your skin<\/a> from skin cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

I urge you: Don\u2019t believe everything you see on social media. \u00a0If you have questions about your skin, please talk to a dermatologist.<\/span><\/p>\n