Sunscreen Time! Are They Safe?

Just weeks before summer was officially underway, the FDA published the findings of a study looking at sunscreen application in the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA. They found that the active ingredients in sunscreen were being absorbed into the bloodstream after application.

Information like this can be concerning. The importance of sunscreen for the prevention of sun damage, premature aging and skin cancer has been preached time and time again. But if active ingredients are entering our bloodstreams, are sunscreens actually safe?

The short answer is, not all sunscreens are safe. The FDA and an organization called Made Safe recommend sticking with products made with the active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide when shopping for skin protection. The active ingredients to watch out for are oxybenzone, octinoxate and homosalate which are harmful to the health of humans and the planet and so should be avoided. Learn how to pick out sunscreen that won’t compromise your wellness or that of your loved ones, below.

FDA Guidelines on Sunscreen Ingredients

Given the results of the study about active ingredients in sunscreen and their absorption in the bloodstream, it would be reasonable to feel nervous about continued sunscreen use. Chemicals in your blood? That certainly sounds scary.

The truth is, there is more information in this study that’s important to understand. In light of their findings, the FDA has asked manufacturers to be more upfront about the active ingredients being used in their sunscreens so the information should be easy to find. Most importantly, the FDA made it clear that there are only two active ingredients that are “generally recognized as safe and effective," or GRASE, and those are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  

Choosing a Safe Sunscreen

Along with the information provided by this FDA study, consumers can turn to an organization called Made Safe for more sunscreen buying information. Specifically, they suggest avoiding three commonly used active ingredients:

• Oxybenzone is believed to disrupt the endocrine system and could trigger both contact and photo allergies. There is also research indicating this ingredient is linked to organ toxicity. Notably, it's also been banned in Hawaii because of its harmful effect on aquatic life.
• Octinoxate is also linked to endocrine disruption and is believed to cause harm to the reproductive system. This active ingredient has also been banned in Hawaii.
• Homosalate is the last of Made Safe’s active ingredients to avoid. This ingredient has been found to disrupt hormones. Using it may also increase the body’s absorption of pesticides and bug sprays.

To keep things simple, Made Safe is slapping their label on products that have been found to be free of harmful active ingredients. On their website, they suggest brands that have passed their test with flying colors, including Babo Botanicals, MamaEarth and True Botanicals.

Is sunscreen safe? Yes! But given this study and other research, we do recommend everyone find the right sunscreen for them to continue protecting their skin from sun damage.

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