Knoxville dermatologist clears up online rumors about sunscreen

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Sunscreen is meant to protect us from the UV rays, but now some social media creators disagree, saying “sunscreen gives you cancer”.

In 2013, Debbie Henry’s life changed as she headed into her annual body checkup at her dermatologist.

“A day later they called me and said you have melanoma and we need to schedule a surgery immediately,” said Henry, a melanoma survivor.

Henry came into the doctor concerned about a spot on her chest, but ignored a darker spot on her face.

“She said that’s not an age spot let’s get it looked at, and it wasn’t, and it turned my world upside down,” said Henry.

Henry loved laying out in the sun in her younger years, and sun tanning oil was always the best option for a quick tan.

“Now I am not that sunbather,” said Henry.

Some social media creators posted online claiming sunscreen causes cancer due to the toxins and chemicals in the ingredients.

Dermatologist Dr. Kimberly Grande has specialized in skin for more than 25 years, and she said these claims bring up major concerns.

“That is completely false. sunscreen does not cause cancer. There is evidence of proof that sunscreen actually protects the skin from ultraviolent light,” said Grande.

According to Grande, several years ago the FDA found higher levels of benzene, a chemical found in sunscreen. The FDA soon took all the sunscreens that had higher levels of chemicals off the shelves.

“As the public picks out their sunscreens, they don’t have to worry about that anymore,” said Grande.

Grande said sunscreen is the best protection to fight against both sun damage and skin cancer.

“Sunscreen is incredibly important and I just try to look at the evidence that people claim that it is not and I can’t understand exactly why there would be somebody that would be claiming sunscreen is more harmful than not,” she said.

Henry’s one spot almost took her life, as she had to have the cancer surgically removed.

“Until you, I guess experience something like that, you don’t take it so seriously,” she said.

According to research, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Grande warned to protect yourself from the harsh UV rays: always wear sunscreen and get an annual skin check up.

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