Using sunscreen daily harmful to your skin

Question

Is the daily use of sunscreen harmful to your skin barrier because it blocks sun rays from giving people the Vitamin D they need? Please let me know as someone who values skincare.

Comments

This claim is seemingly false, wearing sunscreen daily is essential to your skin barrier. According to the American Academy of Dermatology wearing sunscreen daily helps prevent harmful sun rays harm your skin. The AAC by giving examples on how wearing sunscreen can benefit you, "reduce your risk of developing skin cancer," "decrease signs of early aging on your skin like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin," and "Prevent sunburn" help us understand how use of daily sunscreen is not harming our skin but doing the opposite.

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/is-sunscreen-safe#

Answer 1

No, using sunscreen daily is not harmful to your skin. 

According to M.D. Anna Lien-Lun Chien, "Wearing sunscreen is one of the best — and easiest — ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging.

To help make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, dermatologist Anna Chien addresses common concerns."

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sunscreen-and-your-morning-routine#:~:text=Wearing%20sunscreen%20is%20one%20of,Anna%20Chien%20addresses%20common%20concerns.

Comments

While your fact-check emphasizes the importance of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer and premature aging, it would be beneficial to acknowledge and address the common concern regarding vitamin D synthesis. Many individuals worry that daily sunscreen use might impede their body's ability to produce sufficient vitamin D. By incorporating information from reputable sources, such as the Skin Cancer Foundation, which states that typical sunscreen use does not significantly decrease vitamin D levels, you can provide a more balanced perspective. This approach not only reinforces the importance of sun protection but also alleviates concerns about potential vitamin D deficiency.

Answer 2

I disagree with the statement that using sunscreen daily is harmful to your skin.

According to American Medical Association, "Wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protext your skin's appearance and health at any age. But more often then not, people are not wearing - or reapplying - sunscreen properly. Knowing what type to buy and how to propely apply sunscreen are key to preventing skin cancer, which is often caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or artifical sources such as tanning beds". 

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-wearing-sunscreen

Comments

The AMA source is great for emphasizing the importance of sunscreen, but including specific statistics or studies could strengthen your argument. One thing I think you could touch on is the vitamin D discussion. Like briefly mention that while sunscreen blocks UVB rays, which are needed for vitamin D synthesis, most people get more than enough incidental sun exposure without risking skin damage. So, while it’s important to protect our skin from harmful rays, it’s still possible to maintain vitamin D levels through diet or supplements.

Answer 3

Research indicates that the claim that too much or daily sunscreen can block people from receiving adequate Vitamin D from the sun is largely unfounded and disproved by research. 

While sunscreen does block some UVB rays, which is where this myth comes from, it still allows enough rays to reach the skin to support Vitamin D production. Research published in the National Library of Medicine states, "There is little evidence that sunscreen decreases 25(OH)D concentration when used in real-life settings, suggesting that concerns about vitamin D should not negate skin cancer prevention advice."

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30945275/

Additionally, the benefit of daily application of sunscreen far outweighs any potential risk. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, "unprotected sun exposure puts you at risk for any number of conditions that can permanently damage your skin, disfigure you, sometimes even kill you. And the regular use of sun protection can go a long way to keep any of that from happening."

https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/

Answer 4

This claim is false, daily sunscreen wear is not harmful to your skin. According to Harvard Health, sunscreen does not cause skin cancer and does not contain harmful ingredients. Although sunscreen blocks UVB rays, the article explains that most people don't apply enough sunscreen to cause a deficiency in Vitamin D. Sunscreen, when applied and re-applied correctly, contributes to skin cancer protection and even aging effects.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-science-of-sunscreen

Answer 5

I have found this claim to be false. Upon researching on the American Medical Association’s (AMA) official website, an article I found states “The UVL rays cause damage to our skin cells increasing the risk of skin aging and skin cancer. Using sunscreen on a daily basis is critical to protect the skin cells from this damage.” This goes to show that wearing sunscreen everyday is very effective in protecting the skin barrier. This is true even for cloudy days!

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-wearing-sunscreen#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%2520UVL%2520rays%2520cause%2520damage,will%2520penetrate%2520through%2520the%2520clouds.%E2%80%9D

Answer 6

According to Dr. Henry W. Lim, chair emeritus of the department of dermatology at the Henry Ford Health System and former president of the American Academy of Dermatology, using sunscreen could lead to vitamin D deficiency but in only very extreme cases in which the sunscreen has been applied heavily while combined with other UV protective gear such as long sleeves, pants, hats and shoes. He states that sunscreen, “can effectively block sunlight and cause a lack of vitamin D synthesis in skin,” when 1 oz is applied over the whole body, however he also states that, " most people apply less than this amount." ("Could sunscreen cause Vitamin D deficiency? Short answer: Yes", CNN). This explains that it is incredibly unlikely that an individual would be using enough sunscreen and reapplying it regularly enough in order to impact vitamin D absorption. Dr. Patricia Farris, a dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology also comments on this topic stating, "you can’t recommend exposing patients to a known carcinogen (UV light) just to raise their vitamin D levels.” ("Could sunscreen cause Vitamin D deficiency? Short answer: Yes", CNN). She highlights the importance of protecting patients from UV rays is more beneficial for health even if it could cause vitamin D deficiency as there are other ways to support vitamin D deficiency that don't expose patients to more risks such as dietary supplements.

Could sunscreen cause Vitamin D deficiency? Short answer: Yes | CNN

Answer 7

No, using sunscreen daily shouldn't be harmful to your skin. The claim that daily sunscreen use is harmful to the skin, particularly by impairing the skin barrier and inhibiting vitamin D synthesis, is not supported by current scientific evidence. 

While sunscreens are designed to block ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation—which is necessary for vitamin D production—real-world usage patterns suggest they do not significantly affect vitamin D levels. The British Journal of Dermatology reviewed studies and concluded that "sunscreen use for daily and recreational photoprotection does not compromise vitamin D synthesis, even when applied under optimal conditions."

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6899926/?