Millions of Europeans are enduring temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) as a persistent heat dome stifles the continent, with scorching nights offering little relief.
Many people recognize sunscreen as essential protection, yet social‑media discussions have resurfaced questioning its safety.
The debate now focuses on whether sunscreen might increase skin‑cancer risk instead of lowering it.
This long‑standing controversy is gaining traction as rising global temperatures make extreme heat and droughts increasingly common.
Is Sunscreen Linked to Higher Melanoma Risk?
Claim: “According to the National Cancer Institute, since the introduction of sunscreen in 1940, melanoma has increased by over 200%.”
This claim, archived here, has appeared on several social‑media platforms and describes sunscreen as a “poison” that prevents the body from properly absorbing sunlight.
DW Fact check: Misleading
First, several studies have shown that regularly using sunscreen actually reduces the risk of developing melanoma.
“There is no scientific evidence that supports the association of sunscreen use with a higher risk of cancer,” said Brittany Schaefer, Public Information Officer with the Connecticut State Department of Public Health.
Second, the U.S. National Cancer Institute has not said sunscreen use caused a 200 % increase in melanoma since 1940.
The available data on new melanoma cases only begins in 1975.
According to the data, newly diagnosed melanoma cases have risen by more than 220 % from 1975 to 2023. However, there is no evidence linking this rise to sunscreen use.
What Is Driving the Rise in Melanoma?
A 2023 study involving scientists from the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary offers clues as to why melanoma rates are climbing.
Hypotheses discussed by the authors include:
- An increase in reporting and documenting cases
- People are spending more time exposed to the sun
- Climate change, especially the reduction of the ozone layer and UV‑index variations
- Sunscreen is not necessarily being used appropriately
In Germany, 51 % of respondents said in 2024 they use sunscreen only in summer or when directly exposed to sunlight, while 17 % reported never using it.
In the United States, a poll from the same year found that 33 % of adults admit they never apply sunscreen.
Guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates sunscreens for safety and effectiveness, recommends regular use even on cloudy days.
Aldo Sanchez Vera and Astrid Prange de Olivieira contributed to this report.
Edited by: Sarah Steffen
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