, Columnist
How Scary Is the Summer Sunscreen Scare?
Recent reports about possible carcinogens in certain sunscreens have raised safety concerns, but don't overreact. Here’s what you need to know.
Go without sunscreen? No so fast — sunburn can lead to cancer, too.
Photographer: Creative-Family/iStockphotoThis article is for subscribers only.
It’s the middle of the summer vacation season in the U.S., and reports on the presence of a potential carcinogen in sunscreen may have some people thinking twice about their outdoor protection regimen. It turns out the sunscreen safety debate is neither new nor easy to solve. Max Nisen, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist who covers the health-care industry, answers questions about the past and future of sun protection. The conversation has been edited and condensed.
What's behind these new concerns about sunscreen?