Dermatologists have urged people not to make their own sunscreen by following a series of tutorials posted on the internet.
Well-known influencer Nara Smith (@naraazizasmith) posted a video to TikTok last week showing her husband making sunscreen “from scratch.”
The creator, who frequently shares recipes and boasts 8.1 million followers, told viewers: “We were spending a lot of time by the pool and realized we were out of sunscreen.”
Instead of going out to buy sunscreen, her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, emptied the kitchen cupboards and made his own.
“We all burn easily, so I chose something with a bit more SPF,” she suggested.
Other TikTok users were left scratching their heads, with one writing: “Okay, so they’re making fun of us. Homemade sunscreen???”
“As a cosmetic chemist my heart is crying,” added another, while a third claimed: “You guys will be frying food with this concoction this summer.”
Meanwhile, experts have backed the move, with one dermatologist making a video about his reaction and advice.
Dr Amna Adel (@aamnaadel) was astonished by the amount of sunscreen she found online, saying it was “as easy as baking a batch of crumble cookies”.
“All sunscreens on the market undergo rigorous testing to ensure they actually protect your skin from UV rays and, most importantly, prevent sunburn,” Dr Adel explained.
“When you make your own sunscreen at home, you literally have no idea how much protection it’s going to give you,” she added, denying that the SPF value of homemade sunscreens could range from 2 to 10 percent.
The doctor further claimed that “experiencing even one blistering sunburn doubles your chances of developing melanoma.”
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