melanomas and squamous cell cancer, and prevents wrinkles and pigmentation. That’s the benefit,” said Wang.
“But in terms of why people would even think about making a sunscreen at home, I think that is probably based less on science than on fear,” he said.
These are not easy products to make, according to Wang, who is also chair of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s photobiology committee. “Some of the filters they contain are water-soluble, while others are oil-soluble. So molecules can separate, and the end result won’t deliver the protection you’re after. You can’t just whip it together,” he explained.
Using a do-it-yourself sunscreen that doesn’t work could be more dangerous than using nothing at all, he warned. That’s because “when you put oil on your skin without any blockers, you actually allow the UV rays to penetrate deeply into your skin,” Wang said.
Merten said that could make
