Is Sunscreen Dangerous? 4 Sun Protection Do's and Don'ts

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When is it NOT too late to worry about this chemical causing skin cancer! Coming from someone recently diagnosed with melanoma I want to know if there is any chance what so ever that this product may cause skin cancer! And oxybenzone may cause hormonal problems.... and they say "Don't worry so much about the chemicals". These are the things I DO worry about!

CW of MI 6:38AM May 21, 2012

Allright, so butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (pxybenzone) isn't so dangerous?? I'll buy one containing it then. I was afraid to purchase it days ago. :D

Randy 8:02AM September 28, 2011

Even if it is true that sunscreen may not prevent cancer...they absolutely do prevent the horrible discomfort of a nasty sunburn when used as directed. I don't know about everyone else, but it seems to me that just about everything these days has the potential to cause cancer... including overexposure to uv radiation...so use common sense folks, avoid too much exposure during peak hours, and if you have to be out, cover what you can, and sunscreen the rest to avoid the pain, itching, and peeling of a sunburn.

dermagirl of 3:39PM June 07, 2011

Para Amino Benzoic Acids [in sun lotions] is a fantastically powerful Carcinogen, Wearing Nylon next to your bare skin, getting Bleach & Chlorine on your bare skin [please don't swim in chlorinated pools in your nylon swimsuit], and smearing Lanolin and Vaseline based products on the largest breathing organ of your body - is NOT GOOD for your health or beauty. They are as toxic as you can possibly ever imagine.
On the other hand, if you have a yen to "tilt" with fate, Flouride is a fantastic "additive' to further your cause.
About as brisk in its purpose as is "Aspartame".
Titanium Oxide and Zinc Oxide are equally bonkers.
Having been in ADVERTISING for 35 years, I know that "what" the world [in other words, people like ME] "sell" you is "RARELY, if ever, good for you", but only good for the coffers of the companies that sell it to you.
Phillip Morris included. Those iconic poster "Marlboro Men" are all dead now.

rogers of MT 10:37AM April 28, 2011

"Don't worry so much about the chemicals"...? Yikes!
This information is ridiculous. It's also dated. The era of enriching manufacturers based on the widespread myth that sunshine is bad and sunscreen is essential is coming to a long overdue end. Save your money and check out the Vitamin D Council web site instead.

Shary of CO 2:45PM December 19, 2010

Sunscreen is good for the skin provided it is applied in the right quantity. Also the brand of sunscreen matter. Many companies assure people that their product is the best but one should check the product and exercise caution while buying otherwise it can cause damage to the skin.
http://www.simplehealthguide.com/dr-batras-homeopathy-treats-white-patches-safely/

Dr.Batras of TX 12:58AM December 02, 2010

@Candice: please [use] google for a moment on the use of ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. I couldn't even bring myself to read your post, but I did ascertain that you were trying to sound informed via mildly derogatory contrast. To pull this off more effectively, you may find an article that is enlightening through a simple search, and IIRC, it may exist on Wikipedia...but for the love of effective communication, *please* read something that explains how we read and encourages you to stop shouting.

Passing through of VA 11:23AM August 21, 2010

Many people try to get a sun tan, in short increments. Here's the plan: get enough of a suntan that you won't sunburn! The smarter move would be to use enough sunblock to keep your normal skin coloration and not get a sunburn.
Many of us guys wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers, and a hat of some kind in the sun. We don't take these off to slop sunblock on the areas already covered. I once got a very pretty suntan, on my back, with the same pattern as the shirt I was wearing all day in the sun. Maybe some clothing blocks UVA and UVB rays. Maybe some doesn't. How do we tell? Dunno.
I'm a Scoutmaster and have tried to get Boy Scouts ages 11-15 to use sunblock at Boy Scout summer camp. They put it on and sweat it off. We haven't found a waterproof sunblock. The boys get sunburn whether they use sunblock or not. Then they lose faith in sunblock because it doesn't seem to work for them.
When I was a kid I ran around in shorts and tanned as brown as a berry. Nobody mentioned that tanning and sunburns could cause cancer. There was no such thing as sunblock. Now that there is, it is hard to break old habits and use it.
Last thing, not all sunglasses are equal in blocking UVA or UVB. Check the labels.

Mr. Brown of TX 11:44PM July 31, 2010

MY HUSBAND HAD SOME SKIN CANCER ON HIS FACE, REMOVED. HE NEVER WORE FACE CREAM, SUN PROTECTION, SUN GLASSES, HATS, NOTHING. DOCTOR TOLD HE HAS TO START. I GOT HIM THE BEST STUFF WITHOUT THE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, SPF 50. HIS MOTHER TELLS HIM, DON'T USE IT, IT WILL CAUSE SKIN CANCER!!!!! NOT THAT SHE KNOWS ANYTHING, BUT RATHER "WHO WILL HE LISTEN TO" IS HER MOTIVE! LISTEN ALL YOU MEN OUT THERE....... A GOOD WIFE, A GOOD LIFE! IF YOU HAVE A GOOD WIFE, LISTEN TO HER BECAUSE SHE LOVES YOU WANTS YOU TO STAY ALIVE AND BE HER COMPANION FOREVER. MOTHER JUST WANTS CONTROL. SAD, BUT TRUE. SLOP IT ON AND TELL MOM TO MAKE SOME SOUP!!!

Candace of KS 11:47AM July 21, 2010

My husband had skin cancer on his face and it was removed and he's fine, but the dr. said to make sure to wear sun screen and sun glasses, especially to protect the area where he had the cancer because it can reoccur and not necessarily in the same spot. SLIP, SLAP, AND SLOP IT, EVEN YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

PAULINE of CA 11:41AM July 21, 2010