No. 58 of 108
August 10, 2025
The anti-sunscreen movement is growing on social media, in alignment with increased skepticism and “driven by a growing distrust in conventional health advice, pharmaceutical companies and federal regulators. Among them are supporters of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement.” The movement spans from eliminating sunscreens that have oxybenzone or titanium dioxide, using instead homemade screens including various minerals or beef tallow, to promoting diet changes and slow regular exposure to the sun without any sunscreen product as building natural protection against harm from sun exposure. The U.S. regulatory process has approved fewer sunscreens than European and Asian authorities. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a scientifically identified carcinogen. Large scale longitudinal studies (including one involving 143,000 Norwegian women) have demonstrated that people who are regular users of sunscreen have much lower incidences of melanoma than occasional users or non-users.
Skepticism is a healthy human inquiry process, until it isn’t. The downside of the skepticism cul-de-sac is the replacement of that which you distrust with a truth you do not question. Instead of skepticism, practice and cultivate informed inquiry – a form of maka‘ala (… eyes wide open!). In Hawai‘i and other places in proximity and concerned about coral reefs and sea life, we use certain sunscreens that protect humans and reefs. It would be helpful if there was more testing and approval of more sunscreen formulas. We also wear hats. And UPF protective clothing. And we especially avoid being in the direct sun for any length of time between 10:30 and 2pmish or so. And walking in the shade wherever there is shade. For if there is one thing we are not skeptical about is that the sun is the sun. (How can you tell a tourist from a local? The local is walking in the shade.)