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Is Sunscreen Bad for You?

The anti-sunscreen movement makes some alarming claims. Here’s what you should know

Debbie Koenig,

AARP

Published July 02, 2026

Key takeaways

Social media amplifies alarming sunscreen myths more than facts.
Rising skin cancer rates aren’t caused by sunscreen use.
DIY sunscreens, diet and tanning myths don’t provide real protection.

It’s summer, so dermatologists are bracing for the annual flood of patients scared off sunscreen by social media posts. And no wonder: A recent study of sunscreen-related TikTok videos found that although negative posts made up just 6 percent of the total, those videos had the highest engagement levels. In other words, scary stuff sells. But the facts are more reassuring than the fear machine suggests. Here’s what the science actually shows, myth by myth.

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Sunscreen bottles arranged on a bright yellow background

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Myth #1: Skin cancer rates are rising because of sunscreen.

Skin cancer really is on the rise. The rate of melanoma, the most serious form, has more than tripled since 1975. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — the most common, less serious types— saw similar jumps. All this, despite technological advances in sunscreens and public awareness of the risks of sun exposure. To some people, that sounds like a paradox, even an indictment of sunscreen itself.

It isn’t.

“This is a classic example of the correlation-not-causation fallacy,” says Dr. Carina Woodruff, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas. “There are a lot of confounding factors, and when you look at the best data, that data consistently points to a protective effect.”

Those confounding factors — characteristics or behaviors that may influence research findings — include better access to health care, which means more people are getting biopsies and diagnoses. Add to that the use of tanning beds starting in the late 20th century and an aging population that grew up with more leisure time in the sun. Skin cancer takes years to develop, so the rise in cases dates back to before the FDA began regulating sunscreen labeling in 2011, and possibly before it began regulating sunscreen at all in 1978.

Plus, research shows that people who use sunscreen tend to spend more time in the sun — but many use far less than they should, and don’t reapply after two hours, as recommended. So even though you’re using sunscreen, you may not be getting the full protection.

Myth #2: Sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency.

This one expands a kernel of truth into a practical nonproblem. Sunscreen does block some UVB rays, which are needed to make vitamin D in your skin. A 2025 randomized controlled trial found that daily use of high-SPF sunscreen over one year increased the risk of vitamin D deficiency, compared with occasional use.

But let’s put those findings in perspective. First, sunscreen may not be the main culprit here.

“I’ve had patients who spend tons of time outdoors and have deep tans who are still vitamin D deficient. Things like age, genetics, body composition, diet, gut health, ability to absorb and metabolize vitamin D, and overall health all play a role,” Dr. Mamina Turegano, a board-certified dermatologist in Metairie, Louisiana, explains via email.

And second, compared to skin cancer, a vitamin D deficiency is small potatoes.

“If you’re worried about your vitamin D level,” Turegano says, “it’s much easier and safer to check a blood level and supplement if needed than it is to intentionally accumulate sun damage.”

Myth #3: Sunscreen chemicals are toxic and disrupt hormones.

The “clean beauty” movement has made chemical UV filters out to be villains. The concern stems partly from a real study. A 2019 FDA-funded clinical trial published in JAMA found that some active ingredients in sunscreens — including avobenzone, oxybenzone and octocrylene — were absorbed into the bloodstream at levels that might be worth further investigation.

That does sound worrisome. But the public reaction outran the evidence.

“This could be really unsafe, but does absorption actually equate to harm?” says Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona. “The study only checked blood levels. It didn’t show there was any toxicity or poor outcomes. But once people heard there are blood levels with these chemical sunscreens, it got people concerned.”

The FDA did not ask the public to stop using sunscreens containing these ingredients, noting that although the study showed absorption, there were no reports of serious side effects related to it. As for hormone disruption specifically, Bordone is blunt: “There’s been no human evidence to show meaningful endocrine disruption with normal sunscreen use. Most people are not sitting there drinking a bottle of sunscreen and then bathing in it.”

Myth #4: You can make effective sunscreen at home with coconut oil or beef tallow.

This one is circulating heavily on social media, particularly in natural-living communities. Bordone is unequivocal: “I can’t imagine someone trying to concoct sunscreen at home and having it be successful, waterproof, sweat-proof. There are standards for a sunscreen company to have an SPF label and for the SPF level. There’s no way without doing studies that you would know what you’re creating is actually even useful.”

A new study suggests it wouldn’t be. Researchers examined the protection offered by commercially available “natural” sunscreens containing ingredients like oils derived from raspberry seed, carrot seed, argan, coconut and shea butter. Only one, tamanu oil, offered a significant SPF — but after just an hour of sunlight exposure, the protection level dropped from 21.5 to 5.19.

No research exists to show that rendered cow fat offers any protection from the sun, whether you make your own sunscreen or buy a ready-made product that uses it.

“Beef tallow would be the opposite of a sunscreen,” Bordone says. “If anything, it would function more like baby oil and make a person more sensitive to the sun.”

Myth #5: The right diet can increase your natural sun resistance.

Antioxidant-rich foods are genuinely good for you, and antioxidants themselves are often used in sunscreen formulas. But when it comes to getting sun protection by eating the right foods, you’d probably be biting off more than you can chew. A review of 25 previous studies found that carotenoids (found in red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables) do offer mild sun protection — but not at all comparable to what you’d get from using a high-SPF sunscreen.

“You would have to be eating very high quantities of these foods to be able to mitigate the UVB effects of sun exposure, and we don't really know how well it does in terms of protecting against UVA,” Woodruff says. “I think it’s a great strategy to use as an adjunct to sunscreen use, but in itself is not sufficient.”

Myth #6: You can build up a ‘sun callus’ with gradual tanning.

The idea that gradual sun exposure toughens the skin and reduces cancer risk sounds almost reasonable — but it gets the biology wrong in a dangerous way.

“Your skin does harden to the sun somewhat,” Bordone acknowledges. “But that comes at a cost of future skin cancer. The problem is, it’s such a delayed outcome that people don’t associate one with the other.”

If you started the summers of your adolescence by lying out for hours to build a “base tan,” you inadvertently put yourself at risk. Research shows that five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 boosted your melanoma risk by 80 percent, and nonmelanoma risk by 68 percent. “If it were true that having a sun callus decreases your risk, then we would expect that outdoor workers would have a lower risk of skin cancer,” Woodruff says. “What we do see is that they have a significantly higher risk.”

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Debbie Koenig is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Eating Well, WebMD, and dozens of other publications.

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