Does Your Sunscreen Contain Oxybenzone?

Oxybenzone is one of the ingredients in sunscreens that acts as an filter for the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. It is most commonly found in chemical sunscreens – which are the type of sunscreens that are absorbed by your skin as a means of protection. However, as good as that sounds, this ingredient has been known to cause allergic reactions in some people.  This can range from mild irritation, to bleeding, scaling and even hives. Those with sensitive skin or those with preexisting conditions are a lot  more prone to showing an allergic reaction to oxybenzone.

As of now, oxybenzone is still considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration and is allowed to be in the ingredient list of chemical sunscreens, while the American Cancer Society is still conducting research on the potential hazards posed by this chemical.

Why is the American Cancer Society conducting research for oxybenzone? Because chemical sunscreens are absorbed by your body and this particular ingredient seeps into the bloodstream. Data is limited right now to make assumptions that oxybenzone in your blood might be dangerous, so there are no notices just yet to discuss banning it.

Both the EU and the United States have placed percentage caps of oxybenzone in the products that it’s in. Europe currently has it capped at 2.2%, while the United States has a limit of 6%. Hawaii actually has banned sunscreens that contain oxybenzone due to its potential adverse effects on aquatic life. Mexico, Aruba, and a few other Caribbean islands have banned sunscreens that contain oxybenzone outright for the same reason.

So what can you do while the jury’s out on oxybenzone? Try mineral sunscreens. They function differently than chemical sunscreens but they provide the same kind of protection, and are much more friendly to both your skin and the environment.