Can sunglasses cause cancer?

The information spread rapidly on social networks after a post from an account with more than 700,000 followers accused sunglasses of causing cancer. Is it true?

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

The video , posted on Instagram on April 14 and now liked more than 130,000 times, appears to be edited excerpts from a longer interview with Andreas Moritz, an Ayurvedic practitioner who died in 2012.

This video also appeared on TikTok in May.

In the video, Mr. Moritz says: "When sunglasses first came out, cancer cases started to skyrocket… Everything associated with it was associated with cancer."

"You need to expose yourself to ultraviolet (UV) light," he continues. "This causes the brain to produce a hormone that stimulates the production of melanin, the protective pigment of the skin. Without that hormone, the skin becomes vulnerable to sun damage."

"If you wear sunglasses, your body thinks it's dark outside. It doesn't produce the hormone melanin to protect your skin," he added.

Moritz seems to believe that the body can protect against skin cancer through melanin, and that wearing sunglasses - which block UV rays - will prevent the hormone that stimulates melanin production, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.

A video containing content related to sunglasses and increased cancer risk has been labeled as false information by Instagram - Photo: INSTAGRAM

The verification organization Full Fact said on July 4 that there was no scientific evidence to support the above statement.

As we have known before, UV rays in sunlight, especially UV-induced sunburn, increase the risk of skin cancer.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says nine out of 10 cases of melanoma - the most dangerous type of skin cancer - could be prevented if we avoided the sun and sunbathing.

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

That is why we can tan on the parts of our skin that are exposed to the sun but not on the parts that are covered.

A tan alone will not protect your skin completely 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 National Health Service (NHS) also recommends that people wear sunglasses when outdoors. However, there is no solid evidence that sunglasses protect other areas of the body.

Additionally, Full Fact said it was unclear which hormones Mr Moritz was referring to in relation to melanin production.

Some limited research shows 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 good evidence that sunglasses significantly affect melanin production in humans or their ability to protect the skin.

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

Dr Rubeta Matin, a UK-based dermatologist, also told Full Fact that there is no solid evidence 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