Sunscreen Facts and Myths

Not only does sunscreen help prevent skin cancer like melanoma, it also protects people from developing wrinkles and sun damage. This keeps your skin looking healthy and younger.

It's not uncommon for people who practice excellent sun protection from youth to look 5 to 10 years younger than their age.

In May 2021, Valisure tested and detected benzene in several sunscreens. Benzene is a chemical that can cause cancer in humans with long-term exposure according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sunscreens that were detected to carry benzene were immediately recalled.

To find a list of sunscreens that contained benzene in Valisure’s study, visit Valisure’s website.

If you're using a benzene-contaminated sunscreen, don't panic! People actually get low levels of benzene exposure every day in the air we breathe from car exhaust, cigarette smoke, gasoline and fossil fuels. It’s nothing to panic about – just switch to a safe sunscreen and you'll be fine.

Although people with darker skin are at a lower risk for skin cancer, they should still wear sunscreen to protect from sun damage, aging and hyperpigmentation. When people of color develop melanoma, it’s usually detected later and with a worse prognosis, so wearing sunscreen is crucial.

There is currently no evidence that oxybenzone is harmful to most humans. While rare, oxybenzone can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have concerns about oxybenzone usage, switch to mineral-based sunscreens. These do not contain oxybenzone unlike their chemical-based counterparts.

People with a history of multiple sunburns or blistering sunburns have an increased risk of melanoma by 50%. Those with an immediate family member with a familial history of melanoma, your risk is doubled. And people with lots of moles – if you have more than 50 moles, you're at increased risk. Get checked out by your dermatologist regularly.

Aerosol sunscreens are safe to use on human skin. However, they are easy to accidentally inhale, which can exacerbate allergies and asthma. They are also bad for the environment. For these reasons, doctors generally recommend lotion sunscreen over aerosol sprays.