How can applying sunscreen be risky when it is meant to protect your skin? If you’re learning about the possible risks of a certain sunscreen for the first time, the news is definitely confusing. It seems illogical that we should be cautious of the armor we pick to protect our skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays at the same time as the majority of customers invest their confidence in products that promise to maintain the health and vitality of the largest human organ-our skin. So do you know what’s in your sunscreen?
The fact of the issue is that not every brand is made equal. Many people think that applying UV protection is a good, responsible thing to do, but unless you’re using safe sunscreen, you might be harming both yourself and the environment.
Continue reading to discover which sunscreens are risk free and which active ingredients you should stay away from.
Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has failed to set any modern standards for safe sunscreen. However, there may be hope; in 2019, the FDA proposed a new regulation to verify that sunscreens are safe and effective.
For now, though, you’ll need to read the labels on every product you pick up to see whether it contains any of the following concerning ingredients. Or you can visit my list of safe sunscreens here.
Toxic Sunscreen Ingredients
The FDA proposes that 11 ingredients commonly found in sunscreen need additional data from safety and efficacy testing. Chemicals to avoid in sunscreen include:
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone
- Homosalate
- Octinoxate
- Octocrylene
- Cinoxate
- Dioxybenzone
- Ensulizole
- Meradimate
- Padimate O
- Sulisobenzone
Steer clear of these 11 ingredients in order to avoid potential health risks, such as endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, and more. It’s best to shop for chemical-free sunscreen altogether and purchase organic sunscreen made with mineral active ingredients instead.
I’ll dive deeper into the 11 ingredients mentioned above and provide side effects and key differences for each below.
Oxybenzone
When it comes to what sunscreen ingredients to avoid, oxybenzone is one of the most important to remember. This chemical makes the top of my list because it’s generally the most common ingredient found in chemical sunscreens. This is unfortunate because it’s widely considered to be the most toxic ingredient, too.
Oxybenzone is a problem because it’s readily absorbed by the skin, enters the bloodstream, and circulates throughout the body. This can negatively affect several bodily systems. Additionally, when it sheds off our skin and makes its way into the water, it can cause terrible harm to the environment.
Here are some facts about oxybenzone that should make you want to toss out anything you own containing it:
- The Center of Disease Control (CDC) states that 97% of the people tested had oxybenzone present in their urine, and scientists report various concentrations present in fish and waterways worldwide.
- The chemical is also present in breast tissues and breast milk and may induce pro-carcinogenic activities by facilitating the proliferation of cells that are receptive to estrogenic compounds
- Oxybenzone is linked to endocrine disruption and affects hormones by blocking them or mimicking them, throwing off the body’s hormonal balance.
- It causes toxicity to sperm development and sperm viability, has been shown to feminize male fish, and alter the development of breasts in adolescent females.
- It’s been shown to produce contact allergies and photoallergies, meaning reactions actually worsen in the sunlight, which is where you’re supposed to use it.
- Hawaii has recently passed legislation that bans chemical sunscreen containing oxybenzone due to the widespread, tragic coral reef bleaching and fish mortality the chemical has caused.
- Oxybenzone can react with chlorine, producing hazardous by-products that can concentrate in swimming pools and hot tubs—if you’ve ever seen the oily substance floating on top of bodies of water, then you know what we mean.
- Just one drop of oxybenzone in a six-and-half Olympic-sized pool of water is enough to damage coral reefs.
Octinoxate
Octinoxate is a UV filter that can be absorbed into the skin. This chemical is included with oxybenzone as a “UV filter with higher toxicity concerns” in Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s Guide to Sunscreens. This is a guide that rates the hazards and efficacy of sunscreens. According to their research, octinoxate is also found in mother’s milk, causes hormone-like activity, and leads to thyroid and behavioral alterations.
Avobenzone
Avobenzone is typically found in a variety of chemical sunscreens, including lip balms with SPF and baby sunscreen. However, despite how common this ingredient is, it may not be very effective on its own. In fact, sunlight can cause it to break down if it doesn’t have another chemical to stabilize it, making it easier for the sun’s rays to penetrate your skin.
Homosalate
Homosalate is a chemical commonly found in sunscreens and several products containing SPF. It’s used in chemical sunscreens because it can absorb ultraviolet (UV) rays, effectively preventing them from reaching your skin. However, in June 2021, the European Commission released a statement deeming homosalate unsafe in concentrations higher than 10%. Thus recommending that only 1.4% be used in sun-blocking cosmetics. Currently, the FDA allows a Homosalate concentration of 15%.
Octocrylene
Octocrylene is a sunscreen additive often used in combination with avobenzone to neutralize the sun’s UV rays. However, octocrylene can also break down, causing it to develop into a harmful chemical known as benzophenone. This chemical is on the California Proposition 65 list, meaning exposure can increase the likelihood of cancer. According to Yale Medicine, approximately 2,400 sunscreen products have octocrylene in them.
Cinoxate
Cinoxate prevents the breakdown of other unstable chemicals in sunscreen while also absorbing potent UV rays.
Dioxybenzone
Dioxybenzone, or Benzophenone-8, keeps sun care cosmetics from deteriorating by absorbing UV rays. According to one study, dioxybenzone can disrupt endocrine production.
Ensulizole
When the chemical ensulizole makes direct contact with sunlight, it can produce something known as free radicals. These are highly reactive molecules that steal the electrons of nearby cells. This can lead to DNA damage, nerve cell injuries, and other health issues.
Meradimate
Meradimate (methyl anthranilate) is one of the chemicals under FDA review. This is also currently banned from being used in Japan and Europe. Canada has classified meradimate as a substance that’s suspected to be harmful to both humans and the environment. A study showed that methyl anthranilate releases reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, when exposed to light.
Padimate O
Padimate O is a byproduct of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). This was a once common sunscreen ingredient that can be poisonous in large amounts. This is no longer in use because of allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity issues. Although padimate O is a derivative of PABA, it still poses several health risks. They include damage to DNA due to free radicals and allergic reactions.
Sulisobenzone
Sulisobenzone (benzophenone-4) is a sunscreen ingredient with a “fair” rating at EWG. This can cause irritation in both the skin and eyes and disrupt endocrine production. While sulisobenzone doesn’t get absorbed into the skin as much as other compounds do, it can cause other chemicals to penetrate your skin more deeply.
While the list above can be overwhelming, it’s important to remain knowledgeable about the effects of harmful sunscreen ingredients. It is also important to recognize which sunscreen chemicals to avoid.
What’s the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens?
Chemical sunscreen works like a sponge. The active ingredients are absorbed by the skin, which then convert UV rays to heat. Healthy, mineral sunscreen works like a shield. The active ingredients sit on top of the skin and refract the sun’s UV rays (which is why they are also called physical sunscreens).
When comparing mineral vs. chemical sunscreen, chemical formulas were notably much harsher on the skin and often triggered allergic reactions—especially to those with sensitive skin types prone to flare-ups. Chemical formulas also pose health and environmental concerns, but the chemical spray formulas are even more dangerous for multiple reasons:
- Spray application is less effective than lotion, potentially resulting in missed spots and sunburns.
- When you spray chemical sunscreen, you risk inhaling toxins and polluting the environment.
- Many chemical sunscreens contain flammable ingredients, such as alcohol, and the FDA advises consumers to stay away from open flames if used, even after the initial application.
What are healthy sunscreen ingredients?
Protecting yourself from the sun is imperative, but that doesn’t mean you should have to expose yourself to toxins, risk your personal health, and pollute the environment while you’re at it.
The active ingredients that are to be used in mineral sunscreens are derived from two naturally occurring minerals: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
- Zinc Oxide – As a naturally reflective material, zinc oxide sunscreen is one of the most effective sun protectors available. It does an excellent job of blocking out both short and long UVA and UVB rays. Its antimicrobial properties also help heal wounds more quickly, so it’s incredibly safe to apply to your skin.
- Titanium Dioxide – This mineral is also invisible after application, non-comedogenic, and very gentle on sensitive skin. Titanium dioxide sunscreen does a better job at blocking short-wave UVA and UVB rays, so it’s a great choice for casual, daily sun exposure. This ingredient is safe for skin application as it is not readily absorbed but stay away from any type of aerosol with this ingredient as it is considered a carcinogen if inhaled.
Wearing sunscreen is not always necessary as your skin is your natural sunscreen. The more you are in the sun and mind you, not wearing sunglasses, the more your body will produce melanin which is what causes your skin’s pigment to darken. Building up a tan slowly is how your body protects itself from the sun. It is also crucial to get vitamin D from the sun which many people are deficient in. So, you only want to really wear sunscreen if you are going to be in the sun long enough that you may burn. Although getting a tan is beneficial to you, getting burnt is not and is very harmful to your skin. What’s equally as important is using a sunscreen that’s free from harmful chemicals.
Going back to the comment about sunglasses, if you didn’t already know, your eyes are what your body uses to communicate to your brain to tell it how much melanin to produce. So, if you are covering them up with sunglasses then you are basically telling your body that the sun isn’t out and therefore doesn’t need to produce this which is why people will burn more readily when wearing sunglasses. Your eyes also absorb vitamin D!
Remember, when choosing a sunscreen, make sure that it doesn’t contain any of the 11 ingredients currently being investigated by the FDA, and opt for a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the main ingredients. Trust me, your skin will thank you. Here you can visit a list of safe mineral sunscreens to use.
