Ditch the sun cream: it's dangerous. So say increasing numbers of influencers. To the horror of dermatologists and skin cancer specialists, they are spreading the word that the ingredients in sunscreen are harmful – and may even be causing cancer themselves.

Is there any truth in their claims? What does the evidence tell us about the anti-sunscreen arguments?

How does sunscreen work?

Too much exposure to ultraviolet light can damage the DNA in skin cells, leading to mutations that become cancer . UV light exposure also causes premature skin ageing and wrinkles. Sunscreens contain organic or inorganic filters that absorb UV light and then release it as heat. (Some of those filters reflect or scatter UV light, too.)

High-quality evidence, accumulated over many years, has consistently

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