Kristin Cavallari has skincare experts up in arms after admitting she doesn't wear sunscreen.
In January, the lagoon beach The star questioned the need for SPF in an episode of her podcast, Let's be honest. The 37-year-old reality star was joined by Dr. Ryan Monahan, a holistic doctor, as he shared his popular take on sunscreen.
“I want to talk about the sun and sunscreen, which I know is controversial,” Cavallari said. “I don't wear sunscreen and every time I do an interview, I put on a bunch of shit when I admit I don't. “So, talk to me about the health benefits of the sun and why maybe we don’t need sunscreen.”
Monahan, who describes himself as a “functional medicine” expert, suggested “working your base layer in the sun, [so] “You can start to tolerate the sun instead of getting sunburned.”
“Ultimately, it's a very controversial topic, which is very funny, because it's about the sun,” he added. “We have literally spent our entire existence as humans under the sun all day until the last 100 years or so. And now we are locked down, spending 93 percent of our lives indoors. That's really bad for many reasons. The sun is life-giving and nourishing.”
When Cavallari asked if coconut oil could be used as a sunscreen, Monahan recommended eating it because an “anti-inflammatory diet,” she said, can help prevent sunburn.
While the Uncommon James founder's podcast episode took place earlier this year, a clip of his skincare admission resurfaced on TikTok as fans and dermatologists react to Cavallari's comments about SPF.
“Use sunscreen. This is ridiculous,” one TikTok user commented beneath the resurfaced clip.
“Sunscreen is your best friend,” said another person.
Andrea Suárez, a board-certified dermatologist with more than 400,000 followers on TikTok, responded to Cavallari's claims about sunscreen in a separate TikTok post. “What these wellness gurus won't tell you is that our ancestors didn't get skin cancer not because they were somehow immune to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation,” shared Ella Suárez. “More like news flash, they died before the average age of onset of skin cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the average age for skin cancer diagnosis is 66 years. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 100,640 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, a malignant skin cancer tumor, in 2024.
“While it is true that certain elements of our diet, specifically the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in fruits and vegetables, can generally help the skin to be better equipped to cope with some of the harmful consequences of ultraviolet radiation… this “it doesn't protect the skin.” skin from ultraviolet rays,” Suárez continued. “This does not act as a sunscreen, it does not protect skin cells against DNA damage.”
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with one in five Americans developing it in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or using indoor tanning beds can increase the risk of developing all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. To better protect against skin cancer, the AAD suggested applying a “broad-spectrum, water-resistant” sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Meanwhile, Suárez also shared her tips on how to protect your skin from the sun, while still enjoying spending time outdoors.
“Protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen, protective clothing and a hat,” he added. “Enjoy time outdoors. Nobody is telling you that to protect your skin you have to be afraid of the sun and stay indoors all day, for nothing. Enjoy your time outdoors but protect your skin, and no, a supplement won't do that for you.”
“Sunscreen and sun protection do not limit your ability to enjoy and benefit from time outdoors,” Suarez captioned the post.
