Here are some details about sun cream products, including positive and negative aspects, as well as information about ingredients and materials:
- Sunscreen products typically include a combination of active ingredients, except for those formulated with zinc oxide, which is a mineral sunscreen.
- The most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient is oxybenzone, according to publicly available scientific research. It is readily absorbed through the skin and has been found in nearly all Americans, with higher levels in those who report applying sunscreen. Oxybenzone can cause allergic skin reactions, behave like a hormone disruptor, and may cause more harm to children.
- Other potentially worrisome chemical ingredients in sunscreens include avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, which have been flagged for their potential health effects and skin absorption.
- Some experts are concerned that these chemicals may be absorbed through the skin, leading to skin irritation, hormonal disruption, and even skin cancer.
- Mineral sunscreens are made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are considered safe and effective based on the currently available information.
- Hybrid sunscreens, which contain both chemical and mineral ingredients, are considered the "best of both worlds" because they offer sun protection above and beneath the skin.
- Some sunscreen ingredients, such as oxybenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene, have been found in breast milk, raising concerns about their potential effects on infants.
- The FDA has proposed that 11 ingredients commonly found in sunscreen need additional data from safety and efficacy testing, including oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, meradimate, padimate O, and sulisobenzone.
