The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen ingredient this month for the first time in 20 years [1].
This regulatory milestone arrives as health officials combat a surge of misinformation on social media platforms. These myths suggest that sunscreen causes skin cancer, potentially discouraging the public from using essential protection during dangerous UV exposure.
Health experts and dermatologists said sunscreen does not cause skin cancer. Instead, the products protect the skin by blocking ultraviolet radiation, specifically UV-A and UV-B rays, that damages DNA and increases the risk of developing the disease [1, 2, 3].
The newly approved ingredient, bemotrizinol, has been used safely in Europe for decades [1]. Regulatory agencies said there is no evidence of carcinogenicity associated with the ingredient [1].
Despite the scientific consensus, viral content on platforms like TikTok has spread claims that sunscreen is harmful [2]. Some users have argued that people did not contract skin cancer for thousands of years before the invention of these products [4].
Medical professionals said there is no scientific evidence to support these claims [3]. They said that sunscreen reduces the risk of cancer by preventing the cellular damage caused by the sun [3].
This approval follows a long period of stagnation in sunscreen chemistry within the U.S. market. The addition of bemotrizinol provides consumers with more advanced options for blocking a broader spectrum of UV radiation [1].
“Sunscreen does not cause skin cancer; it protects skin by blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation.”
The gap between regulatory approval and public perception highlights a growing challenge for public health agencies. As misinformation spreads rapidly via short-form video, the FDA's approval of a new ingredient serves as both a technical update to skin protection and a necessary catalyst for experts to reaffirm the safety of UV blockers against anecdotal social media claims.
