Some TikTok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here's what to know about the claims

JUNE 17, 2024 5:00 AM ET
HEARD ON MORNING EDITION
Maria Godoy

Tiktok is full of videos with influencers giving advice on health and skin care. But when it comes to sunscreen there’s also a lot of misinformation – false claims that sunscreen is toxic and worse than the sun damage it helps prevent.

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“There have been several high-profile individuals” – including reality-TV star Kristin Cavallari – who have talked about how they don't wear sunscreen, about how it's not natural to wear sunscreen, about how sunscreen causes cancer. That’s not based in fact and it’s not accurate information,” Rogers says.

But it seems to be having an impact. Recent surveys find a sizable number of younger Americans doubt sunscreen’s safety – and are generally misinformed when it comes to sun protection.

One survey, from the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, found that 1 in 7 American adults under age 35 believe using sunscreen daily is more harmful than direct sun exposure.

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