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3rd July 2024
04:34pm BST
The anti-SPF movement is becoming more and more popular online and medical officials are growing increasingly concerned.
The movement encourages people, mainly young women, to stop using SPF but the Irish Cancer Society has stressed that this advice is incredibly dangerous.
Speaking exclusively to Her.ie, Sarah Egan, Cancer Awareness Nurse at the Irish Cancer Society said:
"The anti-SPF movement we are seeing across social media platforms is extremely concerning. These types of trends are very misleading and can be very influential on vulnerable populations, especially younger people, which is deeply worrying. These claims are not backed by science or research, and we would strongly advise people to only access health information from reputable, trusted sources.
"UV radiation is considered a class one carcinogen which means it is a definite cause of cancer, and so it is really important that we avoid UV damage to our skin. Using SPF is a safe and effective way to avoid skin damage."
We may associate tan with looking glowing and healthy, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Sarah explained, "Tanned skin is a sign your skin has been damaged."
"There’s no such thing as a safe tan. Anyone can get skin cancer so everyone needs to protect their skin from UV light regardless of their skin type.
"If your skin darkens, it is a sign of skin cell trauma, even if there is no redness or peeling. Your skin darkens as a way of trying to protect itself because the UV rays are damaging living cells. If you tan easily, you are still at risk of skin cancer and need to use sun protection," she added.
Sarah has urged the public to take care of their skin and ignore this worrying trend.
She said SPF is so important and wearing it is something we need to do every day. It should be incorporated into your every day routine and not ignored.
"While skin cancer is rare in adolescence, exposure to UV radiation during adolescence is more likely to lead to skin cancer later in life. That is why it is so important to use sunscreen and to apply generous amounts to all age groups."
