Some people on social media say sunscreen is "toxic" — here's what experts think about that.

It’s hard to miss the chatter on social media that refers to sunscreen as “toxic.” It, unfortunately, goes hand-in-hand with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s so-called Make America Healthy Again initiative and its obsession with “harmful chemicals” and “toxins.”

People are really afraid of these “damaging toxins” — and who could blame them when there’s so much fear-mongering out there? The MAHA crowd is peddling misinformation on everything from food dyes to seed oils. (For the record, seed oils can be good for your heart, and food dyes are generally safe, especially since they are usually used in small quantities.)

Sunscreen is also a subject of online misinformation, and while there are certain sunscreen ingredients that are closely monitored, using sunscreen is still better than the alternative, which is the risk of skin cancer from harmful sun rays.

“When people ask me which is riskier — sunscreen or the sun — the answer is always the same: the sun, hands down,” Dr. Oma Agbai, a board-certified dermatologist and health sciences associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis, told HuffPost.

Below, experts share their honest thoughts on sunscreen, whether it’s “toxic,” the best sunscreens out there and additional sun protection methods to keep you safe.

First, know that the sun causes skin cancer and skin damage if you don’t use proper sun protection.

Research shows that exposure to the sun’s rays is the top cause of skin cancer. “[The sun’s rays] damage DNA in skin cells and contribute to all major forms of skin cancer, including melanoma,” Agbai said.

“Minimising the exposure of people’s skin to the sun has a strong impact in reducing the skin cancer prevalence,” said Dr. Vlad Codrea, an assistant professor and director of Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology at West Virginia University........

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