HWN Suggests

Is Chemical Sunscreen Actually Bad for You? Derms Weigh In

Ah, nothing like the heat on your skin as you bask in the sunlight with your best friends. But as we enjoy nature’s bounty, it’s important to apply sunscreen daily to protect ourselves against the sun's harsh rays. However, with so many options on the market, selecting a sunscreen can feel overwhelming. Chemical sunscreens are the most popular choice, but some claim you should steer clear of them—that they are hormone disruptors killing the environment. Yikes.

read full article

Featured

 Looking for a Reef-Safe Sunscreen? Ask a Surfer

Popular ingredients in SPF products are harming the beaches we love—here’s what you can do to help.

Articles of Interest

A guide to safe US sunscreens – and the ingredients to avoid

You shouldn’t skimp on sunscreen, but which one should you pick for regular use? Here’s what you need to know.

Are chemical sunscreens safe? Dermatologists reveal what the science really says

Much of the concern around chemical sunscreens today stems from a Food and Drug Administration study published in JAMA in 2019. The researchers in that study investigated whether or not a few common chemical sunscreen ingredients — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and ecamsule — could be absorbed into the bloodstream. After a few days of applying the sunscreen, they were able to detect those ingredients in the participants' blood samples. Of course, that's a concerning finding. But the experts emphasize caution in interpreting these results.

Chemicals in Sunscreen to Avoid

Finding a safe sunscreen may seem like a difficult task with many potent chemicals to avoid. But, the overall take-away is to best avoid chemical sunscreens, particularly those containing these potentially-harmful ingredients and opt for a physical/mineral sunscreen.

FDA Names Potentially Bad Ingredients in Sunscreen: What you need to know

There have been a lot of worrisome reports recently about the health effects of chemical ingredients found in most sunscreens. Some experts are concerned that, because some of these chemicals are readily absorbed into the user’s body, they might lead to skin irritation, hormonal disruption, fertility problems – and even skin cancer.

Hawaii becomes first US state to ban sunscreens harmful to coral reef

In a bid to protect its marine environment, Hawaii has passed a bill banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, chemicals that have ‘significant harmful impacts’ on ecosystems.

Is My Sunscreen Safe?

In recent years, studies have shown that many of the common chemical ingredients used in sunscreens are absorbed into the body’s bloodstream at concentration levels higher than the FDA’s safety threshold. One concern is that the chemicals can disrupt hormones in the body.

Neurotoxic effect of active ingredients in sunscreen products, a contemporary review

In the past century, a variety of protective agents against UV exposure have been developed. Physical filters scatter and reflect UV rays and chemical filters absorb those rays. Alongside the evidence for increasing levels of these agents in the environment, which leads to indirect exposure of wildlife and humans, recent studies suggest a toxicological nature for some of these agents.

Safety of many sunscreen ingredients is in doubt – should we worry?

The US body that regulates sunscreen has declared that 12 of the 16 popular active ingredients might not actually be safe. Here's what you need to know

Sunscreen 101: Protect Your Skin and Coral Reefs

Unbeknownst to many, certain sunscreen ingredients pose a significant danger to coral reefs. The scope of this issue is alarming, with an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen finding its way into the oceans each year. The good news is addressing this concern is relatively simple. By understanding which ingredients to avoid and seeking alternatives, we can play our part in safeguarding these vital ecosystems.

Sunscreen Chemicals Soak All the Way Into Your Bloodstream

Only two ingredients so far have been ruled safe and effective—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The FDA has said they will grant deferrals to companies willing to commit to undertaking the necessary studies for the remaining 12 molecules in question.

Sunscreen: What science says about ingredient safety

Sunscreen is essential for staying protected in the Sun – but recent research suggests some of the ingredients could be improved.

Sunscreens: potential hazards to environmental and human health

The increasing demand for natural products in the United States reflects a cultural shift towards health and sustainability. This trend infiltrates consumer sectors such as the sunscreen industry, amidst concerns about health and environmental impacts of chemical ingredients. The Hawaii Sunscreen Ban has intensified sunscreen formula safety discussions, particularly regarding butylparaben, oxybenzone, and octinoxate. Even at low concentrations, these compounds bleach hard corals eventually leading to their death.

The Banned Sunscreen Ingredients and Their Impact on Human Health: A Systematic Review

Recent evidence of high systemic absorption of sunscreen ingredients has raised concerns regarding the safety of sunscreen products. Oxybenzone (BP-3) and octinoxate (OMC), two common sunscreen ingredients, were recently banned in Key West and Hawaii due to their toxic effects on marine ecosystems. Their impact on human health requires a careful assessment.

Toxic Chemicals in Sunscreen

Oxybenzone: This ingredient is one of the most commonly-used sunscreen chemicals. Oxybenzone is linked to endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, contact allergies, and photoallergies, meaning exposure to light is required to generate an allergic response. This ingredient, sometimes called benzophenone-3, is not to be confused with benzophenone, another common sunscreen ingredient.

Toxicity of Different Chemical Components in Sun Cream Filters and Their Impact on Human Health: A Review

Some chemical components in sun cream filters have endocrine-disrupting activity or can be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, bioaccumulative, allergens, or be toxic for human reproduction. It is important that sunscreens have safety requirements. The objective of this work is to compare sun cream filters used in conventional commercial sunscreens and those that are considered natural products, especially focused on endocrine-disrupting effects.

What you need to know about the chemicals in your sunscreen

Safety concerns about chemicals in sunscreens exist because these ingredients can be absorbed through the skin. With many Americans now using these products more frequently and in larger amounts than in the past, this concern has grown.

Resources

11 Toxic Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid in 2025

Navigating the world of sunscreen can be as complex as decoding a secret language. Ever found yourself wondering which sunscreen ingredients to avoid? Luckily, we have crafted a straightforward and practical guide to unravel toxic sunscreen ingredients and help you confidently select a sunscreen that is as safe as it is effective.