July 13, 2022 – Sunscreen protects wearers from developing skin cancer, according to experts including Timothy Rebbeck, Vincent L. Gregory, Jr. Professor of Cancer Prevention.
A June 15, 2022 article in USA Today debunked the claim that sunscreen can cause cancer, which was spurred by sunscreen products being taken off the market because they contained traces of a chemical associated with blood cancer.
However, scientific studies have long shown that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays lead to DNA damage and tumor growth.
“Sunscreen is effective in blocking damaging UV rays,” Rebbeck said. “The efficacy of this blockage is reflected in the SPF rating, with higher SPF suggesting that it is safer to stay in the sun longer.”
Read the USA Today article: Fact check: Sunscreen protects against cancer, doesn’t cause it, experts say