However, she says that this isn’t cause for alarm. Christina Lee Chung, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology, agrees, telling Yahoo Life that “the vast majority of sunscreen ingredients approved by the FDA are safe and effective if used properly.”Ĭhung acknowledges that some studies show that chemicals used in some sunscreens, including oxybenzone, enter the bloodstream. He adds: “Current research indicates that these chemical sunscreen ingredients are generally regarded as safe for human use and they are very effective at providing UV protection.”ĭr. While some chemicals used in sunscreens have come under scrutiny for potential side effects in animal models, including oxybenzone in the recent EWG report, “human data has not shown the same risks,” Portela tells Yahoo Life. Chemical sunscreens, which make up the majority of sunscreen products, use a variety of synthetic chemicals, including oxybenzone, to protect the skin. Dustin Portela explains that mineral sunscreens use ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, both of which are naturally occurring and are considered safe by both the FDA and EWG. There are two main types of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. How harmful are certain sunscreen ingredients? So where does that leave consumers? Here’s what you need to know.
However, not all dermatologists agree with the EWG’s concerns.
(Along with the report, the EWG released its annual list of best sunscreens to help consumers select the right sunscreen for them.) Other research notes an association between oxybenzone use and affected thyroid hormones, kidney function and puberty timing, while pointing out that more research is warranted.
More specifically, some research shows a link between oxybenzone use and lower testosterone levels in adolescent boys. The report calls out the ingredient oxybenzone (also known as benzophenone-3) in particular because, along with the ability to cause allergic skin reactions, lab studies have found that the chemical is absorbed into the bloodstream and can act as a hormone disruptor. (Getty Images)Ī new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) finds that only 1 in 4 sunscreens out of the 1,700 SPF products the organization reviewed is effective without the use of “worrisome” chemicals. Only 1 in 4 sunscreens offers protection without the use of “worrisome” chemicals, according to a report.
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