Sunscreen Can Cause Cancer

Question

According to breast cancer.org, "While chemicals can protect us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in some sunscreen products may cause cancer in people." They suggest that to avoid the possibility of getting cancer from the sun or sunscreen you should wear a wide-brim hat, long sleeves, and pants.

Comments

I dont think that sunscreen causes cancers, in fact, it plays a crucial role in preventing skin cancer by protecting the skin from harmful UV radiation. While some ingredients in sunscreens have been studied for potential side effects, the current consensus is that the benefits of sunscreen outweigh any possible risks.

Answer 1

There are a large variety of sunscreens to choose from, some containing very different ingredients than others. There are certain sunscreens that contain certain cancer causing chemicals such as benzene. According to a Yale medicine report, "Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, and other regulatory agencies." Long term exposure to inhaled benzene is linked to leukemia as well! Hence, it's crucial to look at the ingredients inside of sunscreen you are considering purchasing and using. 

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-sunscreen-safe

Comments

I believe that your fact-check is accurate, although this is a complex topic. The claim that sunscreen *can* cause cancer due to the harmful ingredients makes sense. However, it doesn't mean that sunscreen isn't important or that it will cause cancer. Not all sunscreens are the same in ingredient lists and some are more safe than others. Also, it's worth noting the many sunscreen recalls. https://www.health.com/condition/skin-cancer/benzene-sunscreen#:~:text=In%20May%202021%2C%20an%20independent,sunscreen%20and%20after%2Dsun%20products.

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Although your factcheck is not necessarily wrong, I believe the article is trying to convey that there is no evidence that sunscreen directly causes cancer, but chemicals such as benzene that are in select sunscreens if absorbed can potentially be the cause of a cancer. Without sunscreen there is a higher chance of getting skin cancer when exposed to the sun for long periods of time, so wearing sunscreen, a more mineral based one, can definitely protect against cancer.

Answer 2

In recent years, many companies that distribute and sell products in California have needed to disclose if any chemicals in their products cause cancer. After reviewing multiple sources, multiple reports such as the Canadian Cancer Society reported "The research on oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate and parabens does not show that they cause cancer. None of these chemicals has been classified as a cancer-causing substance by any major scientific organization. The Canadian Cancer Society has studied the current research, and we believe that oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate and parabens in sunscreen do not pose a cancer risk." Therefore, it can't fully be concluded whether sunscreen causes cancer but the chemicals within are reported to not cause cancer. 

https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/be-sun-safe/spotlight-on-sun-safety#:~:text=You%20may%20have%20heard%20or%20read%20that%20chemicals,parabens%20does%20not%20show%20that%20they%20cause%20cancer

Comments

I definitely agree with your thorough factcheck. I admire how you did not choose whether the claim was true, false, or misleading, but yet no available information, because it is very hard to conclude or distinguish the right answer. Using sunscreen can combat against skin cancer, but the wrong one can cause cancer when the chemicals are absorbed into the skin, but not wearing it increases the risk of skin cancer as well.

Answer 3

https://health.unl.edu/can-sunscreen-cause-cancer-how-avoid-benzene

According to this article, a study did find a cancer causing chemical in some sunscreens. However, they go on to say that this pales in comparison to the amount of this chemical we inhale on a daily basis and that UV radiation is much more of a threat.

Comments

You believe the claim "sunscreen can cause cancer" to be misleading? It seems to indicate that it has the potential to cause cancer in some people rather than being a generalization, but I can see your point of view too and have found fact-checks to support yours. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/06/15/fact-check-evidence-shows-sunscreen-safe-and-effective/9812795002/

Answer 4

Although cancer-causing sunscreens have been considered a myth, many studies and research say otherwise. According to Nebraska University Health Center, high levels of benzene have been found in multiple sunscreens. Benzene is a chemical that can cause cancer. However, this study has not been validated since they found benzene found in other locations during the study like the test tube. So, we cannot confirm whether this is true or not. It is still advised to find a sunscreen that is benzene free.

https://health.unl.edu/can-sunscreen-cause-cancer-how-avoid-benzene

Answer 5

It isn't necessarily known if sunscreen causes cancer. Valisure, an "independent laboratory that provides increased transparency and quality assurance throughout the healthcare industry" according to their page on google, did a study that could imply that sunscreen contains cancer causing chemicals.

 While this can seem concerning, we shouldn't jump to conclusions. The University of Nebraska's healthcare center said, "It's important to note that these results are from one study (Valisure) which hasn't yet been validated."

While the chemical in question, benzene, is a potential risk, it pales in comparison of the known risk of UV rays from the sun. So while there is a possibility that this could have truth, there is not enough evidence to validate this claim.

https://health.unl.edu/can-sunscreen-cause-cancer-how-avoid-benzene

https://www.valisure.com/

Answer 6

According to University of Nebraska University Health Center, "High levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, were reportedly found in several sunscreens." This research suggests that certian brands of sunscreen that contain this ingredient could cause cancer, but not all sunscreen in general. The article went on to also state, "It's important to note that these results are from one study (Valisure), which hasn't yet been validated." Therefore, this claim is not valid. 

https://health.unl.edu/can-sunscreen-cause-cancer-how-avoid-benzene 

Answer 7

This is true, as some of the chemicals in some sunscreen products may cause cancer in certain people.

According to a Breast Cancer society website, "Many of these chemicals are considered hormone disruptors. Hormone disruptors can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body's hormonal balance. Because estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer develop and grow, many women choose to limit their exposure to these chemicals that can act like estrogen."

One way to limit your chemical sunscreen exposure is to look for a sunscreen that contains zinc or titanium, as these are not potential hormone disruptors.

https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors/exposure-to-chemicals-in-sunscreen

Comments

It's always best to dig deeper and find other sources besides what's been used for the claim.

Answer 8

Sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin if you're going to be in the sun. Sunblock is recommended since it contains zinc oxide or titanium oxide. According to Baptist Health in South Florida, 300 studies reveals that traces of benzene have been detected in many sunscreens which is a cancer-causing chemical. Exposure to benzene is associated with certain blood cancers and manufacturers aren't necessarily sure how this chemical appeared. Dr. Michael Kasper suggests to use a mineral sunscreen instead of a chemical sunscreen, because it doesn't absorb into the skin. It is more likely to be a barrier against UV rays and sun damage. Benzene is also not present in mineral sunscreens, making it a lot safer. Therefore, the claim that sunscreen causes cancer is a little exaggerated since there are many safe and clean sunscreens on the market.

https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/cancer-causing-chemicals-in-sunscreens-what-you-need-to-know

Comments

I lik how you used a different source than most of the people who fact checked this did to prove why this article is misleading its readers.

Answer 9

According to Yale Medicine, it was found in recent reports that certain sunscreen may contain carcinogenic chemicals. Benzene, the chemical found in certain sunscreens, is known to be carcinogenic. Yale Medicine can be used as a reference when investigating if your sunscreen is safe. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-sunscreen-safe

Answer 10

Benzene is a chemical that is known to be a carcinogen and is linked to Leukemia. However, not all sunscreens contain benzene and it is not an intended ingredient of sunscreens. Some sunscreens might be contaminated by benzene which makes it slightly carcinogenic but this is not the case for most sunscreens.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-sunscreen-safe