A major new study has exposed a dangerous side effect of daily sunscreen use: vitamin D deficiency. Researchers in Australia found that nearly half of participants who applied SPF50+ sunscreen every day became deficient in this crucial nutrient within a year. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, a resilient immune system, and protection against numerous chronic diseases. Yet, despite this, health authorities continue to promote daily sunscreen use as if it were risk-free. Behind this message lies a troubling truth: the main beneficiaries of widespread sunscreen promotion are not the public, but the multibillion-dollar so-called ‘personal care’ companies that produce it and the pharmaceutical industry that profits from treating the diseases caused by chronic vitamin D deficiency.
Published in the British Journal of Dermatology, the research followed 639 adults from across Australia who were not regular sunscreen users at the start. Half were instructed to apply SPF50+ sunscreen every day whenever the UV index was at least 3, while the other half were told to use sunscreen only at their own discretion. After one year, the results were clear. Among those who used sunscreen daily, 46 percent were vitamin D deficient. Among the discretionary group, the figure was just 37 percent.
The study also measured blood levels of vitamin D and found that they fell significantly lower in those applying sunscreen every day. The results are consistent with what basic biology already tells us: when sunscreen blocks ultraviolet light from reaching the skin, the body’s natural production of vitamin D plummets.
Who really benefits?
The sale of sunscreens primarily serves the interests of two powerful industries. First, the personal care companies that manufacture them benefit from the message that people should use their products every single day, even when the sun is not at its strongest. The sunscreen market is worth billions globally, and sales rely on fear-based messaging about skin cancer.
Second, the pharmaceutical industry benefits enormously from the health problems associated with vitamin D deficiency. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to a long list of chronic diseases including bone disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders, and autoimmune problems. Every case of chronic deficiency resulting from sunscreen use creates long-term ‘customers’ for pharmaceutical drugs.
The forgotten role of the sun
For millions of years, humans and other animals have relied on sunlight to help maintain health. Vitamin D produced in the skin through sun exposure is not just a nutrient – it acts as a hormone, influencing hundreds of genes and regulating processes as diverse as calcium absorption, immune defense, and cell growth. While supplements can correct deficiency, they cannot replicate all the various biological benefits of natural sun exposure, such as improved mood and circadian rhythm alignment. Previous research has revealed clear evidence of an inverse relationship between levels of sun exposure and all-cause mortality.
By focusing solely on the risks of sun exposure, health authorities have ignored the many benefits of moderate, sensible time in the sun. The result has been a distorted public message: avoid the sun at all costs, cover up, and apply sunscreen every day. The new study should force a rethink of this unbalanced advice.
Sunscreens under scrutiny
Adding to the problem, many sunscreens do not even deliver the protection they promise. A recent investigation by Australian consumer advocacy group CHOICE tested 20 popular sunscreen brands. Astonishingly, 16 of them failed to meet their advertised sun protection factor. Several were subsequently pulled from shelves, and regulators launched an investigation.
This scandal highlights another uncomfortable truth: the sunscreen industry profits handsomely from products that may not even work as claimed. Meanwhile, the public is encouraged to slather these chemicals on their skin every day, without sufficient long-term safety data on how the ingredients may affect health when absorbed into the body. Significantly, therefore, worrying research published in 2019 suggested that sunscreen could be bad for the heart.
A better way forward
Of course, no one should ignore the risks of excessive sun exposure. Sunburn damages the skin and raises the risk of skin cancer. But the solution is not to avoid the sun altogether or to rely blindly on chemical sunscreens. A more balanced, health-centered approach is required. This includes building up tolerance to sunlight gradually, avoiding midday overexposure, wearing protective clothing when needed, and seeking shade when appropriate.
At the same time, public health advice should emphasize nutrition. Vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants provide strong protection against oxidative stress, DNA damage, and abnormal cell growth. Studies have shown that vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium, polyphenols, and other nutrients can help defend the skin against UV damage from within. This natural approach to prevention does not generate profits for sunscreen makers or the drug industry, but it does protect public health.
Reclaiming the sun
This Australian study should serve as a wake-up call. For too long, the dangers of vitamin D deficiency have been brushed aside, while chemical sunscreen use has been promoted as a universal solution. Now, hard evidence confirms that daily use of these products carries real risks. Yet instead of changing course, the response from health authorities will likely be to double down on the same strategy – keep applying sunscreen.
This approach may serve the interests of industry, but it does not serve the public. The human body was designed to live in harmony with the sun. Rather than fearing sunlight, we need to respect it, use it wisely, and ensure that health advice is guided by genuine concern for people – not corporate profits.
In the end, the real danger is not the sun itself, but the way the world has been fooled into trading one of nature’s greatest health resources for dependence on the drug and personal care industries.