Can sunglasses cause cancer?

Information has gone viral on social media after a post from an account with over 700,000 followers alleged that sunglasses cause cancer. What is the truth?

Sunglasses help protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes from UV rays - Photo: OCULASE

The video, posted on Instagram on April 14th and now boasting over 130,000 likes, appears to be edited excerpts from a longer interview with Andreas Moritz, an Ayurvedic practitioner who passed away in 2012.

This video also appeared on TikTok in May.

In the video, Moritz says: "When sunglasses first came out, cancer cases started to increase dramatically… Everything related to it became linked to cancer."

He continued: "You need exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. This helps the brain produce a hormone that stimulates melanin production – the pigment that protects the skin. Without that hormone, the skin would be more vulnerable to sun damage."

He added: "If you wear sunglasses, your body will think it's dark. Then it won't produce the hormone that produces melanin to protect your skin."

Moritz seems to suggest that the body can fight skin cancer thanks to melanin, and that wearing sunglasses—which block UV rays—prevents the production of the hormone that stimulates melanin, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.

A video containing content related to sunglasses and the increased risk of cancer was flagged as false by Instagram - Photo: INSTAGRAM

The Full Fact-checking organization stated on July 4th that there is no scientific evidence to support the aforementioned claim.

As we already know, UV rays in sunlight, especially UV-induced tanning, increase the risk of skin cancer.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says that 9 out of 10 cases of melanoma – the most dangerous type of skin cancer – are preventable if we avoid sun exposure and tanning.

Meanwhile, melanin is a pigment produced in situ in melanocytes located in the deeper layers of the skin.

That's why we can tan on the parts of our skin exposed to sunlight, but not on the parts that are covered.

A tan will not provide complete protection for your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

According to Full Fact experts, sunglasses can filter UV rays and help protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes.

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) also recommends that people wear sunglasses when going outside. However, there is no conclusive evidence that sunglasses protect other areas of the body.

Additionally, Full Fact states that it is unclear which hormone involved in melanin production Mr. Moritz is referring to.

Some limited studies suggest that mice exposed to UVB light in their eyes may produce more melanocyte-stimulating hormone—a factor that regulates melanin production.

However, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that sunglasses significantly affect melanin production in humans or provide skin protection.

Dr. Gus Gazzard, professor of ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital (UK), asserts that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that sunglasses increase the risk of cancer.

Dr. Rubeta Matin, a dermatologist in the UK, also told Full Fact that there is no solid evidence to suggest that wearing sunglasses increases the risk of skin cancer as depicted in the video.

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ANH THU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kinh-mat-co-the-gay-ung-thu-20250706064314989.htm