the anti-sunscreen movement

[Anonymous]

I think there is some balance. People seem to use sunscreen way more routinely than in the 80s etc. some of that is good. Some becomes a mindless habit and it's fine to reconsider at times.

We definitely use sunscreen and are careful for our kids but I do think about whether we are really going to be out in the sun vs shade, for how long, how intense it is based on forecast and time of day, etc. We don't use it constantly.

[Anonymous]

I’m married to an orthopedic. You need vitamin d for healthy bones. I also feel like slathering ourselves in chemicals isn’t healthy either. We don’t wear it everyday. We wear it if we’ll be outside more than a half hour to 45 min. My answer might change if we had a strong history of melanoma, but we don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yup - it's real. A lot about the chemicals (but you could use sun protective clothing or zinc). I've even heard about how we don't need sunglasses but to eat more lycopene. Sad and strange times.

Oh gosh. Tell that to our family friend who lost an eye due to sun/cancer

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Yes...I just came across this whole movement too and wanted to scream. I'm just sick of the concrete thinking. You don't have to be all-or-nothing (even if that gets you more clicks as an influencer). It's lead to such dangerous behavior with sunscreen, vaccines, dieting etc. There are costs/benefits to everything. People have lost all ability to discern real risk and to make decisions based on reliable sources.

[Anonymous]

There's probably a tipping point vs all or nothing. If you're at the beach in July, the risk of sun damage is probably worse than the risk of sunscreen. If you're commuting to work in November and maybe stepping out briefly for lunch, the cumulative chemical exposure might be worse. I'm not throwing out sunscreen, but I'm also not dismissing the idea that daily exposure might not be good for you.

[Anonymous]

Apparently it is an endocrine disruptor.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure those people will be fine!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rather cover up with linen etc.

Same. And I live on the beach. Fair skinned and never been burned. I’m just careful how much I allow myself.

The percentage of Americans with Vitamin D deficiency is astronomical. Educate yourselves, people.

[Anonymous]

It's all about the extremes. The crazy sunscreen people who make their kids wear sunscreen to school so they will survive a 15 minute recess are annoying, as are the "all sunscreen is poison" crew.

[Anonymous]

Vaccines, fluoride, pasteurized milk, sunscreen.

I assume washing their hands, using seat belts, and cooking raw meat are next on the chopping block.

[Anonymous]

My aunt had to have her nose reconstructed after melanoma. And she's one of the lucky ones...

[Anonymous]

Just use zinc oxide or another physical barrier if you’re worried about all of the chemicals. I switched to Blue Lizard a few years ago and haven’t gotten a burn since. You can see the spots you’re missed. Worth the extra few bucks to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about the extremes. The crazy sunscreen people who make their kids wear sunscreen to school so they will survive a 15 minute recess are annoying, as are the "all sunscreen is poison" crew.

Right, even the person on this chain saying someone else's choice to wear linen in insufficient. There are extremes on both sides.

[Anonymous]

I think people who privilege rhetoric over science have not been impacted by skin cancer, measles, etc. Hopefully they won't be, but when large numbers start to turn away from well researched, proven data then unfortunately there will be surges in those preventable illnesses, and they will lose that privilege of being unaffected.

[Anonymous]

You people realize that there are millions of people who labor in the sun every day and they don’t use sunscreen right?

They aren’t the ones getting the cancer. It’s office workers on vacation that get it. Maybe the science should look into it.