Should you listen to TikTok and stop wearing sunscreen? Umno, say these dermatologists

Don't believe everything you see on the internet, say two Newfoundland skin doctors, as videos claiming sunscreen causes cancer go viral online.

It's actually the opposite that is, not using sunscreen at all that'll give you a potentially deadly disease.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada, says Dr. Jay Coffey, a dermatologist and associate professor at Memorial University in St. John's.

"About one in five people will develop a basal cell or a squamous cell carcinoma on their face from sun damage," he said.

"The number one risk factor for skin cancer is sunlight."

The viral videos in question, many of them making the rounds on TikTok,are part of an "anti-sunscreen movement" claiming the chemicals found in sunscreens do more damage to the body than they prevent.

WATCH | If it's foggy, you still need sunscreen, say these St. John's-based dermatologists:

Ignore the TikTokers who say skip the sunscreen, insist these N.L. twin brother dermatologists

9 days ago

Duration 2:25

Dr. James Coffey and Dr. Joseph Coffey, both dermatologists, talked to the CBCs Darrell Roberts about sunscreen. Although summer is over, the sunscreen should not be put away.

But even if any one sunscreen brand happened to be filled with harmful chemicals, twin brother and fellow dermatologist Dr. Joe Coffey argues, the risk of sunlight would outweigh the risk of a topical product.

"Oxybenzone is the chemical being named as the culprit," saidJoe Coffey, noting several studies in the past few years that haven't found any evidence the chemical causes cancer.

One study did find abnormalities in rats when the rodents were exposed to "an enormous dose" of oxybenzone in humans, that dose would translate to 275 years of application to 100 per cent of the body.

"There is no risk that we've seen in any of the studies in Canada over the last three years since this myth came out," said Jay Coffey.

Evidence is clear on risk reduction

The benefits of wearing sunscreen even in Newfoundland and Labrador, where fog and cloud cover can reign for much of the year far outweigh the evidence-based risk the pair have seen, they said.

Aside from preventing wrinkles and other signs of aging, it also dramatically reduces the chances of UVB rays penetrating the basal layer of the skin and damaging those cells, raising the risk of cancer.

"Studies done in Australia, where the highest population of melanoma and skin cancer in the world exists, showed that after 15 years of follow-up, there was a 50 per cent reduction in the amount of skin cancers in the group that were being treated with sunscreen," Joe Coffey said.

WATCH | In February, the Coffey twins explained a simple solution to dry skin in winter:

Theyre twins, theyre dermatologists and they have tips to care for dry skin

7 months ago

Duration 1:17

Twin brothers and dermatologists James and Joseph Coffey talk with Krissy Holmes of the St. Johns Morning Show about why winter months bring itchiness and dryness, and the simple solution people can apply daily to keep their skin moisturized.

He pointedout that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador shouldn't shrug off that finding just because they may not see the sun for days on end.

As much as 85 per cent of UV rays can penetrate fog and clouds, as well as windshield glass.

"Our message for Newfoundlanders, because a lot of us are outdoor active people, is to put your sunscreen on daily," he said even in the rain and snow.

Sunscreen should also be applied several times a day, as its effectiveness diminishes quickly once on the skin. Mineral sunscreens, which use zinc and titanium, tend to last longer, but chemical sunscreens work similarly.

Both are safe according to recent studies cited by the Canadian Dermatology Association, he said.

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