Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u2018Tis the season for sunscreen misinformation. The trend of influencers questioning the use of sunscreen and extolling the powers of the sun (and a good tan) is heating up again. They\u2019re seeking out high-UV index days and lathering up in tanning oil. As millennials and Gen Xers, all we can say is, \u201cI think I\u2019ve seen this film before.\u201d And no, we didn\u2019t like the ending \u2014 considering that prolonged sun exposure increases your risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging. While we try not to blame everything on social media around here, there\u2019s no question that #SummerTok has a hand in this trend. In fact, sunscreen videos that contain false information are more popular than you might realize, a recent study found. The misinformation in those videos include everything from unprotected sun exposure being beneficial to sunscreen itself being a carcinogen, disrupting hormones, or containing harmful microplastics. We\u2019ve even come back to that old legend of the \u201chealthy base tan\u201d (which, no, is still not a thing). Related story A Shopper Spent ‘Hundreds’ Looking for the Perfect Face Sunscreen \u2014\u00a0This K-Beauty SPF Won The kicker? A majority of TikTok videos about sunscreen actually encourage you to use it. But they don\u2019t get nearly as much engagement as the ones that tell you not to. We\u2019re now reaping the consequences of those seeds of misinformation. Among Gen Z-ers aged 16 to 29, one-third received a D or F on the American Academy of Dermatology\u2019s sun safety quiz this year. A majority (64 percent) of Gen Zers surveyed said they\u2019d encountered sun misinformation online. It makes for some interesting myth-busting conversations in doctors\u2019 offices, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah, MD, FAAD, of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City. \u201cWhen a young patient comes in with incorrect information about sunscreen, I try to approach them with curiosity to open a conversation rather than create a debate,\u201d Dr. Shah tells SheKnows. Some of the common myths she hears? \u201cSunscreen is toxic.\u201d It\u2019s not. Sunscreen products in the US and abroad are regulated and reviewed for safety. \u201cPeople with darker skin don\u2019t need sunscreen.\u201d Not quite, Dr. Shah says. \u201cPeople with darker skin tones have more natural protection from UV radiation, but they can still experience sun damage and develop skin cancer.\u201d \u201cNatural oils provide enough sun protection.\u201d Coconut oil, olive oil, or other DIY alternatives don\u2019t provide reliable, broad spectrum UV protection. \u201cSunscreen prevents you from getting vitamin D.\u201d You can still maintain health vitamin D levels while using sunscreen, Dr. Shah says, and a 2019 review of the research on this topic concluded that \u201cconcerns about vitamin D should not negate skin cancer prevention advice.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t have to worry about skin cancer because I\u2019m young.\u201d The hard truth is that damage from UV rays accumulates over time. Your skin is keeping score even during childhood and adolescence; in fact, sun exposure during this time is linked to many skin cancers, Dr. Shah says. It\u2019s not like skipping sunscreen for tanning is a new trend \u2014 far from it. It\u2019s just that this generation of teens is getting their anti-sunscreen propaganda from the shiny new (and very addictive) source of social media, a black box parents really can\u2019t penetrate. So how do you counteract it? Dr. Shah likes to start by listening and truly understanding why a teen is anti-sunscreen. \u201cIt\u2019s important for me to understand their concerns,\u201d she explains, \u201cso I can provide evidence-based information and correct misconceptions without making them feel dismissed.\u201d Her key talking points (which you can absolutely steal) include: Sunscreen helps prevent skin aging, like wrinkles and sunspots. Gen Z loves their skincare, so this one should resonate. A tan isn\u2019t a sign of healthy skin. \u201cIn reality,\u201d Dr. Shah says, \u201d\u00a0a tan is evidence that UV radiation has damaged the skin.\u201d It\u2019s just paving the way for premature aging and skin cancer. Everyone needs sun protection. Sunscreen isn\u2019t just for the fair-skinned among us. Risk levels may vary, Dr. Shah says, but \u201cno one is completely protected from the effects of the sun.\u201d \u201cNatural\u201d doesn\u2019t mean safer. \u201cMany social media posts promote oils or homemade products as sunscreen alternatives,\u201d Dr. Shah notes. \u201cPatients should know that products marketed as natural are not necessarily proven to provide reliable UV protection.\u201d Sunscreen is only one part of it. Sun protection goes far beyond the creams you can rub into your skin. Pair it with protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, UV-protective sunglasses, and time in the shade. It\u2019s also always good to remind teens that sunscreen needs to be reapplied, especially after swimming, sweating, towel-drying, or being outdoors for a long time. And if all of that sounds like a lot to your sun-loving kid, we get it. Maybe it\u2019s hard to get them to reapply when they\u2019re out jumping in the waves, or to wear a shirt with sleeves when the temperature cranks up above 90. We\u2019re realistic over here! But all of that gets even harder when your teen is prioritizing the words of TikTokers over the advice of their dermatologist \u2014 or their mom. So start by educating yourself on sun safety (the above list is a good start) and modeling those habits yourself. Then, when you talk to your teen about it, \u201ckeep the conversation nonjudgmental,\u201d Dr. Shah says. Hear them out, then present your case and highlight the things they\u2019ll care about, whether it\u2019s premature aging or the pain of dealing with sunburn. Hand them a bottle of SPF while you\u2019re at it and remind them they can\u2019t believe everything they hear on TikTok \u2014 an evergreen tip if we\u2019ve ever heard one. 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