“Minimize excessive UV exposure” is the steelman to the pro-sunscreen arguments. The evidence against tanning beds demonstrates that excess UV is almost certainly harmful.
I think where the pro-sunscreen arguments go wrong is in assuming that sunscreen is the best or only way to minimize excess UV.
I personally don’t have what it takes to use sunscreen “correctly” (apply every day, “reapply every 2 hours”, tolerate the sensory experience of smearing anything on my face every day, etc) so I mitigate UV exposure in other ways:
Pursue a career of work that can be done indoors
Avoid doing optional outdoor activities during the parts of the day with the highest UV levels—before and after the heat of the day is more pleasant to be out in anyway
use sun-protective clothing like UV-proof gloves, wide-brimmed hats, UV hoodies, etc
choose shady over sunny locations, or create shade with a large hat or parasol
choose full-coverage swimwear for outdoor recreation
wear dark colors on hot days, because dark clothing makes it uncomfortable to remain in the sun very long. I’m good at noticing when I’m too warm, so that’s my cue to relocate to shade.
Just flagging that the effect on sunscreen on skin cancer is a separate question from the the effect of sunscreen on visible skin aging (even if both questions are important).
I would bet that sunscreen dwarfs all other effects in the long run
You mean in a positive or negative way? Harmful? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5615097/ , and/or useless? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447210/
“Minimize excessive UV exposure” is the steelman to the pro-sunscreen arguments. The evidence against tanning beds demonstrates that excess UV is almost certainly harmful.
I think where the pro-sunscreen arguments go wrong is in assuming that sunscreen is the best or only way to minimize excess UV.
I personally don’t have what it takes to use sunscreen “correctly” (apply every day, “reapply every 2 hours”, tolerate the sensory experience of smearing anything on my face every day, etc) so I mitigate UV exposure in other ways:
Pursue a career of work that can be done indoors
Avoid doing optional outdoor activities during the parts of the day with the highest UV levels—before and after the heat of the day is more pleasant to be out in anyway
use sun-protective clothing like UV-proof gloves, wide-brimmed hats, UV hoodies, etc
choose shady over sunny locations, or create shade with a large hat or parasol
choose full-coverage swimwear for outdoor recreation
wear dark colors on hot days, because dark clothing makes it uncomfortable to remain in the sun very long. I’m good at noticing when I’m too warm, so that’s my cue to relocate to shade.
Just flagging that the effect on sunscreen on skin cancer is a separate question from the the effect of sunscreen on visible skin aging (even if both questions are important).