Hellooooo, it is indeed the intention that you use sunscreen

Just when you think it can't get more ridiculous on the worldwide web, someone proves otherwise. There are indeed people promoting a sunscreen free summer. All the dermatologists in the country are now screaming murder and fire, and I am once again feeling vicarious shame because it is necessary for them to do this.

As a millennial, I experienced the transition from slathering on oil without SPF to using sunblock. If you looked a bit tired back then, you would just hit the tanning bed. Nowadays, those things (thank goodness) are gathering dust in a corner of the attic. And still, cases of skin cancer are on the rise because

What is the claim? The substances in sun protection are carcinogenic.

Let that sink in for a moment, yes. The first time I saw the message, I had to chuckle a bit, until I realized that there might actually be people who believe this. No no no, Damen und Herren. Can we pay attention for a moment? Not protecting yourself from the sun can be carcinogenic. Not protecting yourself from sun exposure literally causes skin burns. Not protecting yourself from the sun is truly the absolute worst summer vacation advice you can get.

But sunscreen free-promoting Netherlands has an alternative method. Apparently, it's a solid plan to gradually get used to the sun. Just go outside often in the spring and gradually build up. I don't know if anyone remembers last summer, but it went from zero to a hundred in three days. Try getting used to that; by that time, you'll already be shivering in the fall. Moreover, just getting used to it is far from sufficient, as your skin literally needs an extra protective layer against the sun. And even that is not enough on a sunny day. With your sunscreen free summer.

For my part, the most enlightening explanation came from dermatologist Marlies Wakkee from Erasmus MC on Radio 1: ‘Unless you regularly drink a bottle of sunscreen, there is no evidence that sunscreen is carcinogenic when you simply apply it to your skin.’ Clear. Can we all just go back to doing that now? Applying at least SPF 30, staying out of the sun during peak hours, and leaving skin advice to dermatologists? Great.