Skin cancer myths are dangerous, so we wanted to take a minute to debunk some of them. Today, we’ll chat about the causes of skin cancer, and answer a couple of questions: do I need sunscreen in winter and does tanning prevent sunburns? Let’s get started.
5 Skin Cancer Myths & Misconceptions
Myth 1: Tanning Prevents Sunburns
In order to make sense of this, let’s first keep in mind that not all tanning comes from sunburns – sunburns are a serious problem.
There is a modicum of truth to this myth, though. Melanin does help protect the skin from UV damage, just not enough to make a massive difference if you’re out baking your skin in the sun. Check out this quote from a 2020 study:
“In most phenotypes (types of people), endogenous (natural) melanin is not enough for full protection, especially in the summertime.”
In short, it’s not worth the risk.
Myth 2: You Don't Need Sunscreen In Winter
If you’re wondering “do I need sunscreen in winter,” the answer as to how much you need is going to depend on where you live and how much sun exposure you’re expecting to get. It’s important to remember that, the further north or south you go from the equator, the less intense the sun’s rays are during the winter time.
However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need sunscreen at all during the winter. We recommend considering all factors. If you’re going to be outside on a sunny day for more than five to ten minutes, lather up – it can’t hurt.
Learn More: 4 Reasons You Need Sunscreen In The Winter
Myth 3: Only Intense Sun Exposure Causes Skin Cancer
UV radiation at any level is causing some type of damage to your skin – even on a cloudy day. Clouds don’t block UV radiation. So, even on cloudy days, we’re exposing ourselves to cell-rupturing radiation and DNA-destroying damage. It’s not worth it.
Furthermore, not all skin cancer is caused by UV radiation. So it’s not only important to be wary of the sun exposure you’re getting, but also to keep an eye on your skin in general for telltale signs of skin cancer.
Myth 4: People With Dark Skin Are Immune To Skin Cancer
While there’s a small amount of truth to this myth, due to the increased levels of melanin in darker skin tones, it's important to remember the following things:
- Melanin only helps to a certain extent. Very intense sun exposure for long periods is dangerous for everyone.
- Having this mindset will make you less careful and you could miss a skin cancer spot until it’s too late.
- There are different types of skin cancer – not all of them are directly caused by UV radiation exposure.
Myth 5: Makeup With SPF Is Enough Protection
Makeups tend to have low SPF content. Furthermore, you’re likely not reapplying every 2 hours (touch-ups don’t count), so SPF makeup is only going to protect you for an hour or two. We recommend reapplying based on your product's instructions.
Learn More: Do I Really Need To Reapply Sunscreen?