Your Sunscreen is toxic and can be extremely detrimental to your health. Here's why:
1 The FDA classifies sunscreen as a drug. The following is the FDA list of sixteen acceptable "active ingredients" for products listed as sunscreen. Many of the following ingredients have numerous technical names they go by, we used the most common. According to the FDA’s own standards, the majority, fourteen (active ingredients) are actually very toxic chemicals recommended by FDA. These fourteen are NOT Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective, (GRASE) by the FDA. (Make sense? We don't get it either.) Yet, to get a SPF rating, you either fill out a drug application, and pay thousands of dollars and deal with the bureaucratic red tape or have harmful, toxic chemicals as the "active ingredient" in your sunscreen. Grab your bottle of sunscreen and let’s take a closer look at the “acceptable” list of ingredients:
Aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
22 Prohibited in EU, Canada, and India and known carcinogenic. 2 PABA Has showed to cause thyroid cancer in rats. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Avobenzone (Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane)
3“Studies show that BP-3, after topical application, can penetrate into bloodstream, blood-brain barrier and blood-placental barrier and may induce the reproductive toxicity and abnormal development of the fetus, endocrine system disruption, and neurotoxicity in experimental animal models.” 4 Banned in Hawaii. Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Cinoxate (2-Ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate)
6Can cause dermatitis, Endocrine disruptor and affect the nervous system. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Dioxybenzone (Benzophenone-8)
8Benzophenone is a mutagen, carcinogen, and endocrine disruptor. 21 "Benzophenone is the simplest member of the class of benzophenones, being formaldehyde..." 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Ensulizole (Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid)
14 “Known to produce free radicals when exposed to sunlight, leading to damage of DNA, this UVB protector may have the potential to cause cancer.” 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Homosalate (Homomenthyl salicylate)
9 Endocrine disruptor. Negatively affect hormones in men and women. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Meradimate (Menthyl anthranilate, METHYL N-METHYLANTHRANILATE)
23 Biochemical pesticide. Can cause skin irritation. 10 Banned in EU. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate)
12 “In lab studies, Octinoxate has been found to be an endocrine disruptor. ...can cause an increase in oestrogen production, which can increase instances of breast cancer. Has been found to diminish thyroid hormones. Shown to decrease sperm count in male lab species. "It can also contribute to dark spots on the skin because of its quick degradation when in contact with UV rays. Endocrine disruptors have been proven harmful in the hormone (endocrine).” 3 Banned in Key West Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands & Palau. 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Octisalate (Octyl Salicylate)
13Goes into bloodstream. 4 Banned in Hawaii. 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Octocrylene (2-Ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate)
11 “Some people are concerned about the body's ability to absorb octocrylene, which can present in the blood, urine, and breast milk. It may promote the production of free radicals, which can damage DNA, potentially increasing the risk of melanoma.” 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)
Of the numerous information I’ve reviewed about sunscreens Oxybenzone appears to be one of the most toxic. 14The harmful effect of BP-3 can disrupt the function of many tissues and organs of the human body, like: skin, kidney, brain, endocrine and hematological system, reproductive organs and neonatal development during pregnancy. 21 "Benzophenone is the simplest member of the class of benzophenones, being formaldehyde..." 4 Banned in Key West & Hawaii. 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Padimate O (Ethylhexyl dimethyl PABA)
14 A derivative of the once-popular PABA sunscreen ingredient, research shows this chemical releases free radicals, damages DNA, has estrogenic activity, and causes allergic reactions in some people. 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Sulisobenzone (Benzophenone-4)
16 “Danger! According to the classification provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations this substance causes serious eye damage, causes skin irritation and may cause an allergic skin reaction.” 21 "Benzophenone is the simplest member of the class of benzophenones, being formaldehyde..." 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
17 “Has been shown to cause lung cancer in animals. Titanium Dioxide may be a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level.” 18 “Mechanistic toxicological studies show that TiO2 nanoparticles predominantly cause adverse effects via induction of oxidative stress resulting in cell damage, genotoxicity, inflammation, immune response etc. …Based on the experimental evidence from animal inhalation studies TiO2 nanoparticles are classified as “possible carcinogenic to humans” by the International agency for Research on Cancer and as occupational carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.” Recognized as GRASE by the FDA. 19 Not considered reef or marine safe.
Trolamine salicylate (Triethanolamine salicylate)
24 Use may cause blistering, peeling, heart symptoms, hyperventilation, headaches, confusion, diarrhea, irritation, ringing in ears. 15 Not recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Zinc oxide (Zinc white)
25 Zinc Oxide becomes toxic on your skin after two hours of sun exposure. 20 Not considered reef or marine safe. Recognized as GRASE by the FDA.
Resources
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15843508/
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7648445/
4 https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2021/bills/HB102_.HTM
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8953895/
6 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/octinoxate#environmental-risks
7 https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/704203-OCTINOXATE/
8 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00461
9 https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/homosalate/
10 https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-11/sccs_o_242.pdf
11 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/octocrylene#side-effects
13 https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
16 https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.021.612
17 https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1861.pdf
18 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423755/
20 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
21 https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzophenone
23 https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/cleared_reviews/csr_PC-128725_29-Apr-94_007.pdf
24 https://www.medicinenet.com/trolamine_salicylate/article.htm