EWG SUNSCREEN INGREDIENTS TO AVOID SKIN

sunscreen manufacturers to do more testing on the safety of chemical ingredients, but that may take years. A 2020 study found that rats exposed to the chemical were more likely to develop thyroid tumors. Oxybenzone can cause allergic reactions, and studies have linked it to hormone problems, lower testosterone levels in boys, shorter pregnancies, and increased risk of endometriosis and breast cancer. “In a lot of areas of the world, like Europe, it’s not really used anymore,” Mohammad says.

If there’s one ingredient to avoid, it’s probably oxybenzone, says Tasneem Mohammad, senior staff physician in the department of dermatology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Some laboratory-based studies indicate that chemical ingredients could interfere with the normal function of the body’s hormonal system, affect infant development or cause other health issues.īut Fivenson notes, “there has never been good, practical evidence of harm in a realistic study of people.” The study found that even after a single application, the chemicals remain in your body for an extended period.īut the fact that those chemicals get into your blood, doesn’t necessarily mean those ingredients are harmful, says David Fivenson, an immunologist and dermatologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

EWG SUNSCREEN INGREDIENTS TO AVOID SKIN

After an extended clinical study, the agency found that some commonly used sunscreen chemicals - avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate - can seep through your skin and into your bloodstream. So if we’re being better about slathering on sunscreen, why are skin cancer rates rising? One 2008 study, published in the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, attributed rising rates to a number of factors, including increased exposure to sunlight, more outdoor activities, changes in clothing style, and ozone depletion.īecause of the jump in sunscreen use, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a few years ago decided to reevaluate the safety data on sunscreen ingredients. The good news is, Americans are using a lot more sunscreen - and using it more frequently - than they did before. There is thus far no proven data that says sunscreens can give you cancer.” Can sunscreen ingredients harm your health? “We know that the sun can you give you cancer. “Any sunscreen is better than none,” says Mona Gohara, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). While melanoma accounts for only 1 percent of all skin cancers diagnosed in the U.S., it is the deadliest. Both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have been rising in recent decades. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. What’s important, experts say, is not to let those concerns stop you from using sunscreen altogether, because there’s no doubt that leaving your skin unprotected puts you at greater risk of skin cancer. While more research is needed to prove whether sunscreen ingredients are harmful, the concerns have left many Americans with questions about sunscreen safety and uncertain about which products to purchase.

Virgin Islands, have banned sunscreens with certain chemicals. A growing number of destinations, including Hawaii and the U.S.

Recent studies also show that some sunscreens may cause damage to oceans and coral reefs. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit advocacy organization, says about 75 percent of sunscreens on the market provide inferior sun protection or have worrisome ingredients. You probably already know that using sunscreen regularly can slash your risk of skin cancer, reduce wrinkles and slow the effects of aging.īut recent concerns about sunscreen ingredients have made it more difficult than it used to be to choose a safe sunscreen.

Ewg sunscreen ingredients to avoid