close Video Cancer-causing chemical found in some sunscreens: Study Dr. Marc Siegel says 'this is a wakeup call about an ingredient' on 'America Reports' Some claims on social media about sun safety have grown into a major misconception that sunscreen could cause skin cancer. Hundreds of creators, many on TikTok, have posted videos arguing that the sun isn't the culprit in causing cancer, but rather that harmful chemicals found in sunscreens are to blame.
This stems from a 2021 recall of Neutrogena spray sunscreens and one Aveeno product (Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen) due to the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen. JOHNSON & JOHNSON RECALLS SEVERAL SUNSCREENS: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCT Johnson & Johnson officials confirmed that benzene is not a sunscreen ingredient, according to a Harvard Medical School advisory in Oct. 2021.
Additional testing reportedly found such low levels of benzene in these products that it would not be expected to cause health problems. Johnson & Johnson's Neutrogena Beach Defense bottles are seen on display on a table. The Neutrogena Beach Defense is one of the sunscreens that was recalled due to containing benzene.
(Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Experts advised choosing a different sunscreen brand as a solution. But a national survey by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute in Florida found that one in seven adults under 35 years old believe sunscreen is more harmful to the skin than direct sun exposure..
