Debunking the worst sunscreen misinformation on TikTok

It's sunscreen myth time! Again, TikTok serves up the best misinformation - let's talk about the actual science.

0:00 Intro
0:31 Paul Saladino’s DIY “animal-based” sunscreen
4:39 Seed oils don’t cause sunburn (more Saladino)
10:50 SPF isn’t strength?
14:29 Sunscreen isn’t preventing cancer?
20:06 Dermatologist avoids chemical sunscreens, endocrine disruption, pregnancy
29:50 Sunscreen is bad for your skin?
31:39 Huberman: sunscreen found in the brain 10 years after use
37:29 Sunscreen cushion hack
39:03 Chemical lip SPF - featuring @Moskinlab
42:08 Bobby, milk, coral reefs, non-toxic

Note: I don't think the librarian was responsible for the NOAA page, I think librarians usually know the limits of their expertise and how to assess sources far better than most scientists! IMO it was probably filtered through a bunch of graphic designers and interns and marketing people, plus I have some suspicions about why the NOAA page still hasn't been changed. Stay tuned!

🙋🏻 I'm Michelle, a chemistry PhD, cosmetic chemist and science educator, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!

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[LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Hope you enjoyed this video! I think the next one in this series might be debunking product tests on social media... which ones do you keep seeing?

[denisenj]

When I don't use high sunscreen, I tan and burn. When I do, I don't. 😮. You don't have to be a genius to figure out that suncreen works.

[biosparkles]

Yay, group therapy with Michelle!

As a fellow Australian, it absolutely blows my mind that there are people who don't "believe" in sunscreen. Like, tell me you've never lived somewhere with a UV index above 6 without telling me. My skin would literally be cooked if I used that "animal based" sunscreen with our average UV index of 12 in summer :')

I think literally every Australian knows *at least* one person who has had a melanoma or other skin cancer removed at some point, which probably plays a role in our culture around sun protection.

[christineg]

As an organic chemist, I appreciate the more in-depth discussion of the mechanism of sunburn. The phrase 2+2 cycloaddition makes me feel right at home.

[sarahb]

As a currently pregnant lady whose anxiety skyrocketed in pregnancy- thank you. There is so much fear mongering to pregnant women and it’s so scary. You just want to protect your baby who you know is so vulnerable and so small and it starts to feel like nothing is safe- then people tell you that feeling anxious will hurt the baby too and I’ve just felt like I’m failing my baby this whole pregnancy.

[pheebmcgeeb]

I’m an Aussie doctor working in skin cancer. I love, love, love this. Your explanation of the cellular mechanism for sunburn was more detailed than any lecture I’ve ever seen. I will definitely be recommending this video to my patients!

[behemoththekitty]

"I'm standing in direct sunlight right now" . "Nobody gets burned in 20 minutes " yes they do. As a pale blonde who was born and raised in Europe I haven't known what REAL SUN feels like until l traveled to Florida. Europeans have this very lax attitude towards sun safety because the whole continent is very northern, and we aren't really aware of how cold we have it relative to almost everyone else. Even the southern parts like the Mediterranean region get snowy winters. We shouldn't export our sun behavior. Seriously. Let's stay in our lane.

[shankornfeld]

Someone really wrote to you that "he has access to graduate level research studies and clinical trials not released to the public because he's a Stanford professor"? How do they come up with this misinformation? Firstly, Michelle ALSO has access to research that is behind paywalls. But even if she didn't, everyone has access to all peer-reviewed study abstracts - it is just that some journals are annoying and require subscriptions to access some whole articles. AND, if you really want the article, but don't want to pay for it, you just email any of the authors and they will send it to you FOR FREE. Because there is no such thing as "big science". We all want our research to be out there and to get read. When there is a paywall, it isn't our choice, that is just a consequence that we have to suffer to get our studies out there in the right journals. We hate it too.

[AKbaby]

My mom has had skin cancer, so when i saw a brand basically saying SPF causes cancer, i was pretty annoyed. I cannot believe theres so many totally unrealistic myths/rumors about SPF

[meganm]

As a lawyer in the US, I find it incredibly hard to believe that sunscreen is so harmful, and there are not class action lawsuits against huge brands. I would think sunscreens have been around long enough for this to be a thing. I can only think of one related to benzene.

[DJFelixChester]

A note about the way that titanium dioxide is classified as a carcinogen (at least in the United States). Titanium dioxide is classified as carcinogenic in terms of long term inhalation of fine airborne particulate, usually in industrial settings. It shares this classification with many other materials we consider safe. Things like natural cotton fiber, powdered drink concentrates, bentonite clay, non-dairy coffee creamer, and even things like saw dust and road dirt share the same or similar classification. These are not really for the average consumer to stress over and are mostly for industrial manufacturers as a way to ensure that employees are wearing the correct PPE when dealing with large lingering clouds of these materials.

[mavrifantasia]

A friend of mine has lupus and her rheumatologist told her to only use mineral sunscreen (lupus causes photosensitivity so sunscreen is imperative). When prompted the doctor said it's because she wouldn't have to reapply a mineral sunscreen as often as chemical sunscreen. It's really a shame that, like you said, doctors' misunderstanding of cosmetic science can impact patients skin health, especially for people who are more sensitive. Especially since mineral sunscreen (tend to) suck and you end up using less than what's advisable.

[stephstevens]

Once, whilst a nurse was taking my blood, she commented on my skin being very pale and told me to get a tan. She said I'm clearly not getting enough sun exposure and therefore not enough vitamin d.

I told her that's just my skin colour and I don't want skin cancer so I'm careful. She said, "yeah, wear sunscreen to protect you against cancer, but you still need a tan."

It's true. Medical training doesn't make a person know about every health related thing😅 but it seems to make them think they do.

[jessicameyer]

molecular biologist here - I had no what the actual molecular mechanism was for sunburn beyond generic "DNA damage" until today. Every day is a school day and I am a very happu little nerd to have learnt this!

[Shsisofofjensjskkf]

As a white dude in his early twenties who has neglected skincare most of his life, your channel has done a great job in dispelling a lot of the misinformation I used to believe. I used to think sunscreen was the devil but I am no longer afraid to wear it. Thank you!

[higurashikai]

DIY sun protection: hats, long sleeves and pants or especially coverage on places that get a lot of direct sunlight.

I started wearing long sleeved bathing suits and tights. Helps keep me warmer when swimming but also great sun protection with a hat

[avarice]

11:30

Maybe the sun won't burn you but Michelle sure will 😭

[PTPAUL-ryjc]

As a dark skin black woman, ask me if I wear mineral sunscreen lol!
The best sunscreen for you is the one you will ACTUALLY wear everyday. Not that ghost chalky mess that will turn my whole family blue and purple.

[Saturnreturn]

The major problem is people speaking outside their expertise. Huberman has been called out on this so many times but his following are cultish and believe everything he says. They’re at risk for getting burned and even skin cancer. He himself looks significantly older. He’s only 48, but he looks a decade older with leathery wrinkled skin of a 65 year old. He shouldn’t be speaking outside his expertise. He’s profiting by fear mongering.

[jetsofaqua]

My grandma will always keep my faith that over exposure to the sun is not good for our skin. She’s always diligently used spf never goes out in direct sunlight without a huge sun hat and glasses. She has aged brilliantly at 80 years old. She is often mistaken as my mothers sister despite a 30 year age gap!