First off, the push to stop using sunscreen often comes from folks worried about chemicals like oxybenzone and octocrylene, which are in a lot of mainstream sunscreens. These ingredients have been flagged for potentially messing with the environment—like harming coral reefs and aquatic life. Oxybenzone, for instance, has been shown to be pretty toxic to marine ecosystems, which is why some places like Hawaii have banned sunscreens containing it. There’s also chatter about these chemicals absorbing into your skin and maybe causing issues, like hormone disruption or allergic reactions. Octocrylene, for example, can absorb at levels way above what the FDA considers “safe” for systemic exposure, and it’s been linked to contact dermatitis in some cases. Plus, it often breaks down into benzophenone, a known carcinogen. Yikes, right?
On the flip side, the idea that sunscreen is flat-out dangerous for humans is overblown. Studies claiming harm—like those with oxybenzone—are often based on rats chowing down on the stuff, not humans slapping it on their skin. You’d need to use sunscreen for something like 277 years to get the same dose those rats did. So, the “it’ll kill you” crowd is probably stretching the truth. And let’s not forget: sunscreen does protect against UV rays, which can lead to skin cancer—melanoma isn’t a joke.
Now, there’s also the vitamin D argument. Some folks say sunscreen blocks your body from making vitamin D since you need UVB rays for that. Fair point—vitamin D deficiency is real and can mess with your health. But you don’t need to bake yourself to get it. You can get vitamin D from foods like fatty fish or even supplements, and some experts say just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure a day (before you slather on protection) is enough.
If you’re thinking of ditching sunscreen, you might be into the natural alternatives crowd—like using coconut oil or olive oil, which have some UV-blocking properties. Coconut oil can block about 20% of UV rays and has a decent SPF, sometimes up to 40 in pure forms. Olive oil clocks in at around SPF 7-8. But let’s be real: these aren’t as effective as a good mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide, and they won’t cut it if you’re spending hours in the sun.
Here’s my take: you don’t need to stop using sunscreen entirely, but you might want to be pickier. Go for mineral-based ones with zinc or titanium—they’re less likely to have sketchy chemicals and are better for the planet. The Environmental Working Group rates these higher than chemical sunscreens for a reason. If you’re worried about vitamin D, get a little sun before you apply, or pop a supplement. And if you’re swimming in a reef, maybe skip the oxybenzone stuff to keep the fish happy.
So, no need to go full vampire, but you’ve got options.
