New data from the Neutrogena poll1 shows nearly half of Americans (48%) feel confused about sunscreen use due to conflicting information about it.
Americans are using the internet as a tool to learn more. Below are Americans’ most frequently asked questions about sunscreen on Google.2
1
Does sunscreen expire? (This was also the #1 question in 2019.)
Yes, sunscreens have an expiration date. Check your sunscreen for an expiration date to ensure it is still stable and able to protect your skin.
2
Do people with darker skin tones need sunscreen?
Everyone, regardless of skin tone, is vulnerable to UV damage and should wear sunscreen when outdoors or exposed to UV rays.
3
Does sunscreen prevent tanning?
A tan is a sign of damage to the skin. Effective sunscreen application and re-application should prevent UV damage from the skin.
4
How do sunscreens work?
Sunscreens use either a chemical or mineral UV filter to protect against the harmful rays of the sun. Chemical filters, like avobenzone, primarily absorb UV rays, while mineral filters, like zinc oxide, absorb, reflect and scatter UV rays.
5
How long does sunscreen last?
Sunscreens are OTC drugs and their strength must be confirmed/ensured over the shelf life of the product. Generally, sunscreens have a shelf life of at least two years; be sure to check the label for the expiration date. If no date is stamped, the product is stable for at least three years (in the U.S.)3
6
What is the best sunscreen?
Dermatologists agree that the best sunscreen is the one you will wear regularly. Test out a variety of sunscreens with different forms (lotions, sticks, facial mists and sprays) to find which ones you like best for which occasions, and then keep them in places that will remind you to reapply (near your toothbrush, on your dresser, near the door, but keep away from children).
7
Does sunscreen cause cancer?
Misinformation around sunscreen is abundant, but it’s important to note that sunscreens have been made of ingredients that have been used safely for decades. There is no evidence that sunscreen causes skin cancer.4 In fact, sunscreen use has been proven to reduce incidences of skin cancer.5
8
Is sunscreen bad for you?
Sunscreen ingredients have been in wide over-the-counter use for the protection against skin cancer with FDA review and approval for decades – dating back to the early 1970s. Sunscreen and other commonly-used topically applied ingredients are absorbed by the skin in small amounts, however, absorption of UV filters does not mean there are health risks.
9
When was sunscreen invented?
Swiss chemistry student Franz Greiter is one of the first people credited with developing sunscreen, in 1938. During WWII, Benjamin Green, an airman and pharmacist, used a grease solution that worked as a physical barrier. That grease solution would be further refined and in the 1940s, it became the first “suntan cream” sold in the U.S.3
10
Can you tan with sunscreen?
UV exposure is not a safe way to get a tan. There are many self tanner options available for consumers to purchase if they prefer to look tan.
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- Neutrogena survey conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll from April 2-6, 2020 among 1,843 U.S. adults ages 22+. This online survey is not based on probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Erica Sperling at RpR Marketing Communication: Erica.Sperling@rprmc.com
- Questions pulled from SEMRush.com using keyword “sunscreen” and filtering results by question-type searches. April 2020.
- The New York Times, “Sunscreen: A History.” https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/fashion/24skinside.html
- Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, “The Science of Sunscreen.” July 2018 https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-science-of-sunscreen
- Green AC, Williams GM, Logan V, Strutton GM. Reduced melanoma after regular sunscreen use: randomized trial follow-up. J Clin Oncol 2011; 29(3):257-263.
