{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:44:04Z","timestamp":1785545044897,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Dermatol"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n \n The trend of homemade sunscreen recipes has rapidly gained popularity over the last decade, being largely fueled by social media influencers, natural health blogs, and the growing mistrust of large health organizations like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consumers are increasingly drawn to products labeled \u201c\n natural<\/jats:italic>\n ,\u201d \u201c\n organic<\/jats:italic>\n ,\u201d \u201c\n vegan,<\/jats:italic>\n \u201d and \u201c\n cruelty-free<\/jats:italic>\n ,\u201d often conflating these terms with safety and effectiveness. However, when applied to sun protection, these assumptions can be dangerously misleading. According to the FDA, there is no verified mathematical formula that can be used to determine an accurate sun protection factor (SPF) rating for the amount of zinc oxide used in many of the recipes found online.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n The objective of this review is to examine the rising popularity and efficacy of homemade sunscreens compared to commercial sunscreens and highlight the potential public health implications of skin cancer risk related to homemade sunscreen use.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Multiple databases were searched to find current and relevant literature analyzing the social media impact relating to homemade sunscreens and the efficacy of homemade sunscreens compared to commercially available products. Digital content that included or discussed homemade sunscreen recipes was included as well to provide examples of information trending online.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n One study analyzing social media trends found that many strong, unverified claims relating to homemade sunscreen versus commercial sunscreen use are being presented in the media, potentially influencing public knowledge. Additional studies analyzing the components of homemade sunscreen recipes compared to components in commercially available products found that homemade sunscreens offer little to no sun protection, therefore increasing the risk of UV damage for individuals using homemade products.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Based on the presented evidence, the adoption of unregulated homemade sunscreens presents a substantial threat to public health. Misinformation spread through social media and influencer culture may unintentionally contribute to an increase in UV-related skin cancers. Greater efforts are needed from health care professionals, regulatory bodies, and online platforms to educate the public and promote the use of scientifically validated sun protection methods.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/84694","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T14:00:08Z","timestamp":1770991208000},"page":"e84694-e84694","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Rise in Homemade Sunscreen Trends and Future Impacts on Skin Cancer Risk: Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-7443-0481","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabi","family":"Kaftan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-1518-3548","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mia","family":"Panillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0699-7284","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lydia","family":"Maxon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2357-6972","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emily","family":"Esposito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2025.18749","article-title":"Keratinocyte carcinoma: a review","volume":"335","author":"Wehner","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"R2","unstructured":"Wells K . Natural homemade sunscreen recipe. Wellness Mama. 2024. URL: https:\/\/wellnessmama.com\/beauty\/homemade-sunscreen\/ [Accessed 01-07-2025]"},{"key":"R3","unstructured":"\u201cOrganic\u201d cosmetics. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA; URL: https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/cosmetics\/cosmetics-labeling-claims\/organic-cosmetics [Accessed 26-06-2026]"},{"issue":"50","key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E1802","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.201085","article-title":"The efficacy and safety of sunscreen use for the prevention of skin cancer","volume":"192","author":"Sander","journal-title":"CMAJ"},{"issue":"3","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/phpp.70026","article-title":"Sunscreens: updates on sunscreen filters and formulations","volume":"41","author":"Ziglar","journal-title":"Photoderm Photoimm Photomed"},{"key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0076-6879(00)19035-4","article-title":"Photocarcinogenesis: UVA vs UVB","volume":"319","author":"de Gruijl","journal-title":"Methods Enzymol"},{"issue":"4","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"689","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2024.02.066","article-title":"Sunscreens part 2: regulation and safety","volume":"92","author":"Abdel Azim","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"issue":"7","key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"865","DOI":"10.1001\/archdermatol.2011.173","article-title":"Safety of oxybenzone: putting numbers into perspective","volume":"147","author":"Wang","journal-title":"Arch Dermatol"},{"key":"R9","unstructured":"Bevan-Cormier C . Tinted sunblock with zinc oxide. Modern Hippie Inc. URL: https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20260115133138\/https:\/\/www.modernhippiehw.com\/blog\/tinted-sunblock-zinc-oxide\/ [Accessed 01-07-2025]"},{"issue":"2","key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ajd.13237","article-title":"Sharing recipes and creating potentially dangerous homemade sunscreens","volume":"61","author":"Kanellis","journal-title":"Australas J Dermatol"},{"key":"R11","unstructured":"Skin Cancer Foundation. Ask the expert: is homemade sunscreen safe? Skin Cancer Foundation. 2024. URL: https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/is-homemade-sunscreen-safe\/ \u200c [Accessed 01-07-2025]"},{"issue":"12","key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1344","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2019.2724","article-title":"Natural does not mean safe-the dirt on clean beauty products","volume":"155","author":"Rubin","journal-title":"JAMA Dermatol"},{"issue":"9","key":"R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1123","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2019.1616442","article-title":"Pinterest homemade sunscreens: a recipe for sunburn","volume":"35","author":"Merten","journal-title":"Health Commun"},{"key":"R14","author":"Arkhipenko","journal-title":"J Integr Dermatol"},{"issue":"2-3","key":"R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1111\/phpp.12112","article-title":"Global state of sunscreens","volume":"30","author":"Osterwalder","journal-title":"Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed"},{"key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phytol.2023.12.008","article-title":"Assessing the safety and efficacy of DIY-homemade sunscreens with natural, aromatic and herbal ingredients","volume":"59","author":"Uluta\u015f","journal-title":"Phytochem Lett"},{"issue":"2","key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1021\/ed300851a","article-title":"ZnO-based sunscreen: the perfect example to introduce nanoparticles in an undergraduate or high school chemistry lab","volume":"91","author":"Guedens","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"issue":"6","key":"R18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1788","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.13783","article-title":"Demonstration of the dangerous nature of \u201chomemade\u201d sunscreen recipes","volume":"20","author":"Couteau","journal-title":"J Cosmet Dermatol"},{"issue":"6","key":"R19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1017","DOI":"10.1007\/s43630-025-00742-7","article-title":"Uncovering the efficacy of a natural homemade sunscreen in protection from ultraviolet radiation","volume":"24","author":"Ince","journal-title":"Photochem Photobiol Sci"}],"container-title":["JMIR Dermatology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/derma.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e84694","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T22:25:59Z","timestamp":1785536759000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/derma.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e84694"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"references-count":19,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/84694","relation":{},"ISSN":["2562-0959"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2562-0959","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"article-number":"v9i1e84694"}}