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#

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Great response, concise but hits the nail on the head. Also uses a very reputable source. Keep it up!

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I believe that sunscreen is more effective than harmful, but I think there is some truth to certain sunscreens with chemicals causing irritation. I am curious about what specific sources were used to back up these claims.
According to Cancer Council, "Reactions to sunscreen are rare and can be a result of a sensitivity or allergy to any of the many ingredients used in these products. Some people may have a reaction to a fragrance, preservative, UV absorber, or another component of the sunscreen."

https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/about-sunscreen/sunscreen-reactions

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I like your standpoint on this claim. You provide well sourced evidence, such as the American Academy of Dermatology. You also explain the facts you found from the sources, which is helpful for factchecking.

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I agree with your factcheck. I liked how you cited what source you were using, and explained what the American Academy of Dermatology stated. I do know that some sunscreens contain ingredients that can be harmful, and I think it would beneficial to include more on that because knowing about both sides of the claim can help further reveal how accurate this claim is. I would also like to know more about the American Academy of Dermatology and how that is a credible source. Overall, I really like your factcheck and I think you included helpful information.

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This claim seems to be false, this is because according to Harvard Health Publishing "Concern about vitamin D deficiency should not be a reason to avoid sunscreen." It is also said said that some sunscreens contain a chemical that is an apparent hormone blocker called "Oxybenzone". This is nothing to worry about though, as testing was done to see the affects of this chemical. After studies done on rats using the chemical, it is said "It would take an individual 277 years of sunscreen use to achieve the equivalent systemic dose that produced effects in these rat studies,". https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-science-of-sunscreen

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Based on my research, the claim that “using sunscreen daily is harmful to your skin” is false. Here’s what I found:

First of all, a Q&A site like Quora.com is not a valid source as the information comes from individual users instead of licensed professionals. After a quick google search of the main claim “Is using sunscreen daily harmful to your skin?” I found multiple sources that prove that daily sunscreen is in fact crucial to protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

The first reliable source I found was an article from the American Medical Association called “What doctors wish patients knew about wearing sunscreen”. The AMA is a licensed organization with educated professionals in varying medical fields, with this article focused on statements from two dermatologists.

- Evelyn Jones, MD, a dermatologist and owner of WellSprings Dermatology and WellSprings SkinCare in Paducah, Kentucky.

- Klint Peebles, MD, a dermatologist in Washington and suburban Maryland at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, a member of the AMA Health System Program.

The article lists multiple points on how to properly choose, apply, and reapply sunscreen. The first sentence of the article, “wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age,” already disproves the initial claim, with the article then going into more detail about how wearing sunscreen helps to prevent skin cancer.

Although this article is from 2022, meaning that it isn’t the most recently posted evidence, it is still a reliable source. If this claim was about politics or current events, an article from three years ago might not be the best evidence to use, but facts proven by medical professionals and dermatologists are still reliable after three years.

In addition, I investigated “The science of sunscreen” published by Harvard Health, yet another incredibly reliable source backed up by professionals of a prestigious university and medical school. Dr. Jennifer Lin, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Melanoma Risk and Prevention Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital answers commonly asked questions about sunscreen. This article states the many benefits of wearing daily sunscreen, but it also addresses some potential worries that people have about sunscreen.

There is a question asking “Is there evidence that sunscreen actually causes skin cancer?” in which Dr. Lin replies with a no, stating that those who use more sunscreen are also the ones who are exposing themselves to more of the suns harmful rays. This means that there is a direct correlation from sun exposure to skin cancer, not sunscreen to skin cancer.

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

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

Answer 1

The claim that using sunscreen daily is harmful to your skin is false. The use of sunscreen helps to prevent skin cancer and helps to build up the skin barrier that protects from harmful UV rays. The reason this claim falls into the Exaggerated/Misleading category is because there are some cases reported where using sunscreen with particular ingredients can cause irritation/rash on some users. This does not make the use of sunscreen as a whole harmful but does serve as a reminder to not use suncreens with ingredients that are irritating to your skin.

AMA

Answer 2

There are many sources that point to this being false. According to a Harvard Health questionnaire about sunscreen, use of sunscreen prevents against multiple different types of cancer, including carcinoma and melanoma. There is no evidence that daily use will have any negative long term health effects. Another concern that some have is the development of vitamin D deficiency due to the reduced sun rays coming into contact with your skin. However, studies have shown that most sunscreen users will not use the recommended amount, meaning that most are not at risk. If you are concerned about your vitamin D levels, supplements can be used. The nanoparticles used in sunscreen have been proved to stay on the skin, and not leak into the bloodstream, meaning health issues are very unlikely. Even when the sun is not out, sun protection can help prevent wrinkling, dark spots, and prevent skin aging.

Source- The science of sunscreen - Harvard Health

Answer 3

This claim is exaggerated/misleading, as the risks of skin cancer from not wearing sunscreen daily outweigh the risks of Vitamin D deficiency. According to the Harvard Medical School, sunscreen blocks ultraviolet B rays, which are necessary for your body to generate Vitamin D. However, this risk is minimal if one is applying recommended amounts, and can be mitigated by taking a Vitamin D supplement.

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

Answer 4

This claim is false. It is sunscreen's job to be a barrier for our skin against UV rays. In a study done by AMA, they had two dermatologists list things they wished patients knew about sunscreen. These doctors proved that daily sunscreen use was critical, claiming "Using sunscreen on a daily basis is critical to protect the skin cells from this damage." 

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

Answer 5

Using sunscreen daily is not harmful to your health. In fact, it is recommended by dermatologists that sunscreen should be part of your daily routine. Wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin, not only from a sunburn, but reduce the chances for skin cancer too. The AMA recommends wearing sunscreen because it is the easiest and cheapest option to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays. All sources provide more specific protections that sunscreen offers along with tips to keeping your skin protected from harmful rays from the sun.

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

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sunscreen-and-your-morning-routine

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

Answer 6

This claim is false, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation the regular use of SPF 15 or higher SPFs reduces the chance of developing melanoma by 50% as well as premature skin aging by 24%. "High-SPF sunscreens are designed to filter out most of the sun's UVB radiation since UVB damage is the major cause of sunburn and can lead to skin cancers. UVB wavelengths happen to be the specific wavelengths that trigger vitamin D production in the skin. Nonetheless, clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency." (Skin Cancer Foundation) There is no evidence that the use of sunscreen is harmful to the skin barrier because it blocks vitamin D. John Hopkins Health also mentions that Wearing sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age and that using it regularly helps prevent sunburns and skin cancer.

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

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

Answer 7

This claim is false. Sunscreen protects your skin, it does not harm it in any substantial way.  

According to Harvard Medical School "It's true that sunscreen blocks ultraviolet B rays, which are shortwave rays from the sun that are important for generating vitamin D in the skin. However, because most people apply far less than the recommended amount (about one shot glass–sized amount to the body and a teaspoonful to the face) of sunscreen, users typically aren't deficient in vitamin D." The risks imposed by sunscreen are much less than the ones caused by not using sunscreen. Sunscreen is effective in reducing the risks for developing skin cancers, and skin cancers have more health impacts and are harder to counteract that a vitamin D deficiency. Also the risk for developing a vitamin D deficiency is low, and people can take vitamin D supplements too easily solve a deficiency. Finally, sunscreen is one of the most effective tools in preventing signs of aging and keeping up skin health as it is an effective protectant against harmful rays. 

Overall while sunscreen can disrupt the skins ability to produce vitamin D the risk for that is low and can easily be solved through the use of a supplement. Overall not using sunscreen poses more of a risk than using it to the skin.

Sources - 

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

https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sunscreen-safety/

Answer 8

A study published in The British Journal of Dermatology and The National Library of Medicine completed four experimental studies including both controlled studies and observational studies. They conducted three field trials in real-world settings, and 69 observational studies that tracked participants without intervention solely recording their sunscreen use and vitamin D levels. Their findings were mixed however suggested no direct correlation between sunscreen use and reduced vitamin D levels. 

The experimental studies found that sunscreen use reduced the production of vitamin D3 when participants were exposed to UVR (ultraviolet radiation) in a controlled artificially produced environment. Within the randomized controlled trials and observational studies, data showed that sunscreen use did not affect vitamin D levels, using a moderate SPF (not the highest level of protection) and in some of the self-reported sunscreen use was linked to higher 25(OH)D (vitamin D3) levels.  

Neale RE, Khan SR, Lucas RM, Waterhouse M, Whiteman DC, Olsen CM. The effect of sunscreen on vitamin D: a review. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Nov;181(5):907-915. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17980. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 30945275.

R.E. Neale, S.R. Khan, R.M. Lucas, M. Waterhouse, D.C. Whiteman, C.M. Olsen, The effect of sunscreen on vitamin D: a review, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 181, Issue 5, 1 November 2019, Pages 907–915, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17980

The previous article shows no correlation between low SPF and vitamin D levels, but what about high SPF levels? An article published on skincare.org by dermatologist Anne Marie Mcneill MD, PhD, states that "High-SPF sunscreens are designed to filter out most of the sun’s UVB radiation" The wavelength of UVB radiation is what triggers vitamin D production, however, Dr. Mcneill shares that even with perfect sunscreen use that UVB's are still able to penetrate your skin, and further comments "prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels". She continues to suggest more ways to obtain good levels of vitamin D while continuing to protect your skin from harmful UVB rays. 

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

Foundation, Skin Cancer. “Sun Protection and Vitamin D.” The Skin Cancer Foundation, 24 Oct. 2023, www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/. 

The claim that daily sunscreen use is harmful to your skin barrier because it fails to let in vitamin D is false. The data and sources above show that there is no direct correlation between sunscreen use and lowered vitamin D concentration but rather suggest daily sunscreen use to help maintain vitamin D levels, and that daily sunscreen use is necessary to protect your skin, not harmful.

Answer 9

No, using sunscreen daily is not harmful for your skin. A study done at Harvard revealed that one of the chemicals in sunscreen that receives the most concern, oxybenzone, has never had conclusive results on whether it's harmful to humans or not. This study also addressed the misconception that sunscreen can cause skin cancer, when actually only the sun exposure causes it. 

Using sunscreen daily is actually one of the best ways to protect your skin from damage and prevent skin cancer (John Hopkins Medicine). Sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA rays with an SPF of at least 30 is the best way to protect your skin from any damage. It is also very important to use "in vulnerable populations such as children and individuals with lighter skin types" (NIH). 

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

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sunscreen-and-your-morning-routine#:~:text=Wearing%20sunscreen%20is%20one%20of,skin%20cancer%20and%20premature%20aging.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587264/

Answer 10

The answer to this is no, sunscreen is not bad for your skin and is in fact good for it. There is little to no evidence to back up the idea that sunscreen affects vitamin D in any way. Several very credible sources agree on that. There are some other concerns based on whether or not certain sunscreens are good for the environment but there is no evidence to the claim that it would be bad for your skin or that it would decrease the amount of vitamin D you would be able to get if you applied sunscreen regularly.

Articles:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6899926/#:~:text=Conclusions,when%20applied%20under%20optimal%20conditions.

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

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