Oxybenzone.

The topic for this quarter is Oxybenzone, a chemical commonly found in sunscreen. While it is affective at blocking UVA and UVB rays, it has raised many red flags in the recent years.

The chemicals in sunscreen act as a protective barrier for your skin by absorbing UV rays so that your skin does not. Without sunscreen, these rays penetrate your skin and can damage your DNA. As we all know this can lead to skin cancer but can also cause skin to loose its elasticity over time causing wrinkles. Applying SPF daily is the best way to protect yourself against these damaging rays.

Through the interaction between oxybenzone and UV rays, oxybenzone is broken down allowing it to be absorbed into the skin. It was once believed that it could not be absorbed and therefore safe but recent studies have shown detectable levels in human blood and breast milk, proving that can be.

Once oxybenzone is absorbed into the skin, it can cause a myriad of problems. It is known to be an endocrine disrupting chemical (which if you’ve been a subscriber for a while - you know this is problematic). Several 2020 studies support evidence that oxybenzone can increase the risk of breast cancer, endometriosis and studies in rats provided evidence of thyroid tumors after significant exposure. Studies have also shown negative correlation to pregnancy and birth outcomes including high or low birth weight, a birth defect called Hirschsprung’s Disease which can be life-threatening and others. A 2016 study showed significantly lower levels of testosterone in male children after exposure. Testosterone is an essential hormone for healthy growth in boys and lower levels can cause many different issues. Oxybenzone can also cause allergic skin reactions.

We could go on and on with the potential adverse effects of oxybenzone that have been identified in recent studies. The important takeaway is that is can be toxic to human health and should be avoided, especially with children. It also has detrimental effects on aquatic life which can affect the entire ecosystem.

While the effects of other chemicals used in sunscreen such as Octinoxate, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene and Avobenzone vary, all have concerns for their effect on human health and should be avoided.

So what should you use for sun protection? Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are minerals that can provide broad spectrum sun protection without being broken down and absorbed into the skin. Though some brands struggle to formulate a good mineral sunscreen without leaving you covered in a white cast, new brands are constantly emerging and there are some great products on the market today.