WHAT WAS CLAIMED
A study found that using sunscreen "massively increases" the risk of skin cancer.
OUR VERDICT
False. It did not find that using sunscreen increases cancer risk.
AAP FACTCHECK - A scientific study is being misinterpreted to falsely claim that using sunscreen "massively increases" the risk of three types of skin cancer.
While the study observed a correlation between regular sunscreen use and cancer, the lead author says that's due to users spending more time in the sun, not the protective cream itself.
Experts say numerous other studies show that using sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer.
The claim appears in a Facebook post by an Australian user that features a screenshot and a link to an article from The People's Voice, a publication AAP FactCheck has debunked multiple times.
"Sunscreen Shock: Major Study Finds Melanoma Risk Nearly Quadruples Among Sunscreen Users," the article's headline reads.
"A major study involving more than 470,000 participants has found that using sunscreen massively increases the risk of three major types of skin cancer," the article continues.
The same claim has also been shared by an Australian-based X user.
The linked article references a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in November 2023.
However, the claim is false. The study did not find that using sunscreen increased the risk of skin cancer.
Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, a dataset that tracks the health information of 500,000 participants, to examine how genetics interacted with environmental factors to influence skin cancer risk.
The study's lead author Ivan Litvinov, from Canada's McGill University, says the team did find a correlation between frequent sunscreen use and cancer risk.
But they did not conclude that applying the protective cream increased the chances of getting the disease, he said.
"The post misinterpreted the results of our study," Dr Litvinov told AAP FactCheck.
The link was instead driven by the "sunscreen paradox", he said, where people who spend more time in the sun use more sunscreen.
"When sunscreen is used as a 'permission to tan', problems arise," Dr Litvinov said.
"Many people apply less than the recommended amount, fail to reapply it appropriately, and develop a false sense of security.
"As a result, they spend more time in the sun without employing other protective measures, leading to increased tanning and sunburns."
This paradox was also highlighted in an August 2023 study that found that using sunscreen "may inadvertently encourage prolonged sun exposure due to a false sense of security".
The November 2023 study suggested the heightened risk could also stem from people using sunscreen as a precaution after already receiving a cancer diagnosis.
"Collectively, however, these findings demonstrate the importance of adequate and frequent sunscreen use and minimisation of exposure to UV light, particularly in individuals with fair skin," the researchers concluded.
Anne Cust, a skin cancer expert at the University of Sydney, said several studies provide evidence that using sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer.
Professor Cust referred to a 1999 clinical trial that found regular use seemed to prevent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and a 2010 trial that found it may prevent melanoma.
Prof Cust also co-authored a 2018 paper that concluded that using sunscreen was significantly associated with a reduced risk of melanoma among young adults.
"The major cause of skin cancer is UV radiation," she said.
"Factors that increase the risk include fair skin, red hair, moles, family history, previous skin cancers, sunburns, [and] older age."
Dr Litvinov said proper sunscreen use, combined with other sun-protection measures, reduced the risk of skin cancer.
"This has been clearly demonstrated across numerous studies, and we can see the benefits reflected in the excellent public health outcomes achieved in Australia," he said.
The World Health Organisation and Cancer Council Australia also recommend using sunscreen, avoiding sun exposure and wearing protective clothing.
AAP FactCheck has previously debunked false claims about sunscreen and cancer.
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