Boca Beachgoers Split on the Sunscreen Debate

The anti-sunscreen movement remains a hot topic both online and off, especially on South Florida beaches where the sun shines all year round.

But for 23-year-old Emily Patterson, there’s no debate: Sunscreen isn't part of her routine.

"I don't use it," Patterson said. "I think most of it's bad for you. I think if you have, like, a basic zinc one—if you get, like, Kelly Slater's brand or something, you'll get a good one. But if you get most ones, like even the nice, fancy brands, they're all pretty bad and, like, honestly, full of chemicals."

Patterson, who surfs frequently and spends hours outdoors, believes that skin health has more to do with what people eat than what they apply to their skin. "If your body's not polluted, your skin isn't polluted,” she said. “So if you eat healthy, you're not gonna get skin cancer." 

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States; research widely shows that regular use of sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. By protecting the skin from harmful UV rays, sunscreen can also help prevent premature aging, experts say. But, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some members of the American public have grown increasingly skeptical about the scientific establishment. Between 2020 and 2024, research shows, Americans’ trust in hospitals and physicians dramatically declined in every demographic group surveyed. The debate around vaccines is one manifestation of this growing distrust. 

Now, sunscreen seems to be the latest battleground. 

“Everyone online is like ‘wear sunscreen or you’ll age overnight,’ and I’m just not buying it,” said 20-year-old Boca Raton resident and Florida Atlantic University student Lauren Plante. “People survived before SPF. I think being smart in the sun matters way more than putting chemicals all over your body." 

These are common talking points among the anti-sunscreen crowd: That people lived for centuries without sunscreen and that skin cancer diagnoses have increased in recent decades along with a rise in the commercial availability of sunscreen. 

However, as that axiom from college statistics goes: “Correlation doesn’t equal causation.”  

There are beachgoers who know this, of course, and who still wear sunscreen–including those who have seen a loved one suffer the adverse effects of sunbathing without protection. "My mom got skin cancer from not using sunscreen, so I definitely am  a believer in sunscreen," said avid beachgoer Summer Lantz, a 25-year-old from California who was in South Florida to visit a local friend.

Sunscreen is not the enemy, said Rebekah Anderson, a 25-year-old esthetician at Boca Raton’s Balance Spa. 

"'Harmful' is definitely an individual opinion," Anderson said. "Products that we purchase have to be cleared by the FDA, which tells us what's directly going to affect our health. The FDA also has stricter regulations of sunscreen than any other product we put on our skin."

Anderson added that, generally speaking, people are “severely under-using” sunscreen. This is especially relevant in Florida, she said. "We are so close to the sun down here compared to our northern states, it's unreal the amount of sun exposure we get just by walking to our car."

She added that while some people claim sunlight is safer than it used to be, that's not the case.

"People who say they've never had any issues without wearing sunscreen are either extremely genetically blessed or don't realize the sun we are under is completely different than what it was even 50 years ago," she said. "The ozone layer that used to protect us from most harmful rays is slowly being eaten away."

There are a mind boggling number of sunscreens out there with different ingredients; those who are anti-sunscreen often point to those chemicals as their reason for steering clear of such products. However, for those unsure about which sunscreen to use, Anderson recommends mineral options. These are also a better choice for individuals with sensitive skin, she added. 

"Mineral is a literal shield, using naturally occurring zinc or titanium dioxide which reflects the sun off your skin," Anderson said. "If you struggle with sensitive skin or pigmentation, mineral will be the best fit."

She added that the word "chemical" isn't always a bad thing.

"Chemical sunscreen uses chemicals to actually absorb UV radiation and dissipate that off the skin as heat," Anderson said. "That being said, chemicals are not bad. Everything is made out of chemicals — did you know a lemon has over 50 chemicals in it?"

Despite this, Patterson said she'll keep sticking to her natural approach.

"I think if your body's clean, your skin's clean," she said. "I'd rather eat right and be in the sun than put all that stuff on me."