Anti-sunscreen movement spurs criticism among doctors [Video]

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It’s all over Instagram and Tik Tok. Search “anti-sunscreen,” and videos pop up in droves, filled with influencers trying to convince people that using sunscreen is more harmful than not.

John Shaff, a physician assistant with Stockton Dermatology, said patients often ask him about claims that chemicals in sunscreen cause cancer.

“When it comes to sunscreen, you really have to weigh the benefits and the risks,” he said. “There are some unknowns, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.”

Shaff agrees that all of the hard-to-pronounce ingredients are enough to give you pause, but isn’t convinced they’re enough to cause cancer because the chemical amount is small. But he recommends a mineral-based sunscreen before a chemical-based product.

“All of us tell our patients something is better than nothing. Don’t go out and not do anything, whether it be a spray, a chemical or a mineral-based sunscreen, or some type of clothing,” he said. “At the end …