Dr. Darst Appears on Channel 14 News – Discussing Sunscreen Study

NORTH CAROLINA – Charlotte-based dermatologist Marc Darst says people need to wear sunscreen daily.

Long term effects of not wearing sunscreen, ultimately, can lead to skin cancer,” Dr. Darst said.

But a consumer report this month says less than half of popular sunscreens tested actually meets (Delete S) it’s advertised SPF. And a 2016 study says as much as 40 percent of the most popular sunscreens don’t meet the American Academy of Dermatology’s standards.

Dr. Darst says consumers should check the sunscreen’s ingredients, whether it’s broad spectrum (meaning it protects from both UVA and UVB light), and recommends buying at least SPF 30. If  the SPF isn’t as strong as listed, Dr. Darst says consumers shouldn’t be concerned.

“I tell my patients that the sunscreen that’s the best is the one that they’re going to wear every day,” Dr. Darst said. “We’re quibbling over the little things when we start talking about that. The major thing is people are not applying enough sunscreen and we need to get them to apply more.”

North Carolina has the 15th highest rate of skin cancer, according to the CDC.