Ask any dermatologist (which we do, constantly) and they will tell you the number-one thing you can do for your skin is use sunscreen. It reduces the risk of skin cancer and serves as a barrier to protect skin from the damaging effects of the sun (like skin discoloration and prematurely aging skin). But not everyone agrees with the often-lauded benefits of using sunscreen, including former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, who recently confessed that she has never worn SPF—not even during her days running on the beach in that famous red one-piece.
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In a recent Q&A with Harper’s Bazaar, the 50-yeaer-old starlet and outspoken animal rights activist was asked if she always wears SPF and her answer was surprising: “Never—my parents never put SPF on me. And then I found out how it polluted the ocean. I never wore sunscreen on Baywatch. Just oil.”
It may seem shocking to hear that a former sun-worshipper like Anderson never uses sun protection, but she’s not alone. According to a survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013, the majority of Americans do not regularly use sunscreen to protect themselves from harmful UV rays. Despite years of public health messages, only about one third of Americans said they use sunscreen regularly. With so many new options available in today’s sunscreen market, there are plenty of eco-friendly choices to choose from these days, so there’s something for everyone—even the most famous bombshell TV lifeguard.
