Surfers and everyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, enjoying the sun and the fresh air, should at some point apply sunscreen.
The consequences of overexposing your skin to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are well known and potentially deadly.
One of the most common misconceptions about the sun's impact on our skin is that tanning makes you look good and healthy.
Until the 1920s, tanning was socially associated with people from lower, underprivileged classes who usually worked outdoors and under intense sunlight.
However, believe it or not, Coco Chanel's accidental sunburn in the French Riviera helped change that. If you're interested in the history of tanning, this story is definitely worth a parallel read.
The increasing need to boost people's vitamin D levels and the invention of sunscreen only boosted the new trend.
Tanning looked like you were having fun, sunbathing in idyllic destinations and on beaches.
Tanning Is Not Healthy
With time, scientists and doctors noticed that the link between excessive sun exposure and skin cancer was starting to become statistically relevant.
A correlation between darkened skin and disease and early deaths had been established.
We now know that tanning is unhealthy and that there's no such thing as a safe tan. Full stop.
Sunscreen formulas have evolved exponentially since the mid-1930s. Today, there are two types of photoprotective products: mineral and chemical sunscreens.
They are not perfect and never entirely harmless.
Nevertheless, their use is more than recommended - they're mandatory, especially during the period in which UV rays are most intense.
There have been a lot of wrong things said and written about sunscreen.
Here are some of the most widely spread untruths, rumors, lies, and myths about these sunblocks.
Myth 1: Sunscreen is toxic and causes cancer
Wrong. No medical evidence links modern sunscreens to cancer. Experts affirm that UV rays - not sunscreen - trigger DNA damage and skin cancer. Some older products were flagged for contamination (like benzene), but that's no reason to ditch sunscreen. Instead, stick to safe, regulated options.
Myth 2: A "base tan" shields you from the sun
A base tan? That's the weakest SPF ever - around SPF 3. Sunscreen? Even SPF 30 gives you roughly 97 percent coverage. Plus, tanning itself damages DNA and adds aging to your skin's resume.
Myth 3: It's cloudy, so you're in the clear
Clouds nope you off the hook? Think again. Up to 80 percent of UV rays slip right through cloud cover. That means even on grey days, your skin's still in the splash zone. Stick to broad-spectrum protection every single day.
Myth 4: High SPF is your golden ticket
High-SPF products make us feel bulletproof, but often, we apply too little and end up staying in the sun longer than safe. Regulators say anything above SPF 50+ can be misleading. It doesn't add much punch but may lure you into longer rays time.
Myth 5: Natural oils like coconut or olive protect like sunscreen
Coconut oil? It might block about 20 percent of UV, which is way lower than the bare minimum SPF 15. Some sources say its real SPF is as low as 1. Not nearly enough to surf, swim, or stroll safely. Oils and butters are no match for proper sunscreens.
Myth 6: Sunscreen ingredients harm hormones or the reef
Some people worry that chemical filters like oxybenzone sink into the body and mess with hormones, or that they wipe out coral reefs. Studies in labs raised those concerns, but the doses were way higher than what happens with normal sunscreen use. In real life, there's no solid evidence that sunscreen harms people this way. Reef damage? The much bigger culprit is climate change and warming oceans. Still, if you want to play it extra safe for your skin and the sea, mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are solid, reef-friendly picks.
Myth 7: Sunscreens don't do much for aging or cancer protection
Actually, sunscreen is your financially-wise, age-fighting, skin-saving ally. Doctors call it an essential tool for warding off skin cancers and slowing sun-driven aging. UVB causes burns and mutations; UVA sneaks in deeper, speeding wrinkles - and a broad-spectrum sunscreen is your bodyguard on both counts.
Myth 8: Sunscreen ingredients are mostly untested
Not true. In the United States, the FDA treats sunscreens like over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Some filters are clearly safe, while others are still under review. However, zinc and titanium dioxide are solid favorites. Bottom line: the risk of sunburn and skin cancer massively outweighs the faint possibility of chemical concerns.
Myth 9: All sunscreens are basically the same
Not even close. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that around 80 percent of sunscreens they looked at either lacked proper UVA protection or had questionable ingredients like oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate. Only about 21 percent of sunscreens - and the same percentage of lip balms - scored high in safety and effectiveness.
Myth 10: You don't need sunscreen indoors
Even indoors, you're not totally safe. UVA rays sneak through glass, so if you're near a window, they're still hitting your skin. EWG notes that computers, phones, and TVs also emit blue light that may age skin similarly to UVA, though full details are still being studied.
Myth 11: Sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency
Studies show sunscreen doesn't significantly interfere with vitamin D levels. EWG emphasizes it's a minimal risk, and vitamin D can also come from diet or supplements, especially for people with darker skin, older folks, or those living farther north.
Myth 12: Sunscreen causes skin cancer due to benzene contamination
Benzene is a known carcinogen, but the levels found in some contaminated sunscreens were extremely low, comparable to just half a day of city air exposure. In fact, sunscreen users often had lower benzene blood levels than non-users. Experts still strongly endorse proper sunscreen use.
Myth 13: Sunscreens protect right away once applied - no waiting needed
Both chemical and mineral sunscreens protect immediately once you've applied them. The "wait-time" advice is not about activation; it's about giving the product a chance to settle into an even, stable layer that won't rub or sweat off. But there's no chemical reaction needed to turn the product into protection.
Myth 14: "Windburn" is something different than sunburn
Turns out, "windburn" is simply sunburn that happens on cool or cloudy days when people don't realize they're still being burned. The wind isn't to blame; it's UV rays still sneaking through. The term just stuck, but it's a misconception.
Myth 15: Sunscreens are safe for the lungs in all formats
Sprays, powders, and loose mineral forms can be inhaled, depositing particles in the lungs that might travel into the bloodstream. EWG flags inhaled titanium dioxide as "possibly carcinogenic" and warns that some mineral powders can cause lung inflammation. So, ideally, stick to creams when you're surfing or sunbathing.
Myth 16: Sunscreen ingredients are unregulated or shady
Sure, some organic filters do get absorbed into the bloodstream, but studies show these are based on over-application scenarios, and not real-world use. There's no evidence these levels cause harm, though regulators are watching closely, like limiting oxybenzone in the EU and UK.
Myth 17: Sunscreens always live up to their SPF labels
Reality check: A recent independent test in Australia revealed that some SPF 50+ sunscreens actually tested as low as SPF 4. That's way off the mark. These situations prompted product recalls and raised alarm about labeling accuracy.
Myth 18: Monsoon or cloudy season - no sunscreen needed
Not true. As we've learned above, even under heavy cloud cover or during monsoon rains, UV rays slip through - up to 80 percent still reach your skin. It's a year-round gig, not a seasonal one.
Myth 19: Only a small fraction of sunscreens are safe and effective
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) says only about 23 percent of U.S. sunscreens meet its safety and efficacy criteria. Dermatologists push back, arguing that EWG's tests are too strict and may scare people away from using sunscreen at all. Nevertheless, information is power, so get information from trusted sources. If you think it makes sense, play it conservatively and choose sunblocks that have been widely praised for their effectiveness and safety.
Myth 20: Mixing mineral and chemical sunscreens is a big no-no
Not quite. Cosmetic chemists say layering mineral and chemical sunscreens is okay so long as it's done correctly. Plus, claims of "100 percent mineral" may hide SPF boosters that act like chemical filters. Application and consistency matter more than marketing buzz.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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