MONTREAL GAZETTE | Sunscreen shouldn't be a DIY project
Wearing sunscreen is probably one of the best cancer deterrents there is. We often forget how common skin cancer is. One in five adults will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lives, making it more common than all other cancer diagnoses combined. Fortunately, if caught early, it can be easily treated. It is also largely preventable, says Christopher Labos, a Montreal doctor and an associate with the McGill Office for Science and Society.
Still, despite assurances that sunscreen is more likely to prevent rather than cause cancer, fear about potential side effects is pushing some people to try to make their own. While there are many recipes out there on the internet, the usual ingredient list tends to be some mixture of coconut oil, shea butter, lavender, and/or beeswax. The rationale seems to have been that coconut oil provides some UV-blocking protection.