Keep Cool and Wear Oxybenzone-Free Sunscreen

Ever since children were young the daily application of sunscreen regiment has been engraved into their brains when going outside. To such an extent, sunscreen has been proven and publicly aware to reduce harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that cause premature aging, sun tans, sunburns, and more importantly, skin cancer¹.  However, did you know that sunscreen contains chemical ingredients that can be harmful to your health? Oxybenzone is considered to be a toxic ingredient within sunscreen and other cosmetic products like, lip balms, moisturizers, nail polishes, hair products, and plastics².

What is oxybenzone and why is it used?

Oxybenzone, also known as C₁₄H₁₂O₃ or Benzophenone-3 chemical, is a photo-stabilizer that can absorb UV light from 5-408 nanometers³. This colorless, odor less, and readily dissolvable compound is used in cosmetic products to protect plastics from breaking down in the light, and to prevent the skin from absorbing UV rays⁴.

Should you be concerned?

Oxybenzone is usually used in concentrations from 1% - 7% in cosmetics and has been tested on skin up to 100% which shows no evidence of skin irritations⁵. However, oxybenzone penetrates and accumulates within the skin which leads to other heath concerns. More specifically, the compound can enhance the skins penetration of other chemical like pesticides, cause cell death, and enhanced production and sensitivity to estrogen^6,7. This endocrine disruptor has been suggested to effect sperm mobility and maturation for men and potentially endometriosis in women⁷.

Are there any alternatives?

Now although oxybenzone may not directly harm your skin or even your body for a one-time use, there are safer options. There is a wide variety of Oxybenzone-Free sunscreens or mineral based (zinc or titanium oxide) sunscreens that reflect the UV light rather than absorb it⁸. Given these points, it is important to research the ingredient listed in products that are used every day and potentially seek safer alternatives.

Image Source:  created by Jocelyn Aab (2018) with images from 1) Sun Symbol of the Philippines by Achim1999 (2012) from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sun_Symbol_of_the_National_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg  2) Put on Suncream by Ryan Lerch (2015) from http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/mission_story.pdf

References

1. Skin Cancer Foundation https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen (accessed Feb 6, 2018).

2. Oxybenzone https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704372/OXYBENZONE/# (accessed Jan 26, 2018).

3. O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1245

4. Oxybenzone https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@rn+@rel+131-57- (accessed Jan 25, 2018).

5. Christian M, ed; J American College of Toxicology 2 (5)1983: 35- 73 

6. Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM.. Active ingredients in sunscreens act as topical penetration enhancers for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Toxicology Applications Pharmacology 195(3) 2004, 348-354

7. Watanabe, Y "Metabolism of UV-filter benzophenone-3 by rat and human liver microsomes and its effect on endocrine-disrupting activity.". Toxicology and applied pharmacology (0041-008X), 282 (2) 2015, 119.

8. Mineral Sunscreen: The Oxybenzone-free Alternative https://www.solrx.com/blog/mineral-sunscreen-oxybenzone-free/ (accessed Jan 29, 2018)