Is your sunscreen safe? 5 facts to know about sun protection | CNN (2024)

Is your sunscreen safe? 5 facts to know about sun protection | CNN (1)

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Even though summer is winding down in the Northern Hemisphere and school has started or is right around the corner, don’t put your sunscreen away just yet. You still need it to protect against skin cancer and premature aging.

Despite the clear benefits of sunscreen, questions about sunscreen safety — and even its necessity — have been debated for years. These doubts have been fueled in part by a growing number of social media influencers, as well as the 2021 discovery of the carcinogen benzene in a handful of since-recalled sunscreens. (The chemical, not an ingredient in sunscreen, appeared to be linked to the aerosol propellant.) Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration moved to have manufacturers do more safety research on a dozen common sunscreen ingredients.

Sometimes it is hard to separate fact from fiction and figure out what is worth worrying about (or not).

The link between sun exposure and skin cancer is well established. Ultraviolet radiation is thought to cause up to 95% of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, and between 70-95% of melanomas in people with fair skin.

“Skin cancer is caused by exposing the cells in the skin to UV radiation, and particularly UVB radiation,” researcher Dr. Rachel Neale told CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell recently in a special episode of the podcast Chasing Life. Neale, a principal research fellow at the QMR Birkhoff, a medical research institute in Brisbane, Australia, has been studying skin cancer since 1993.

“Those most harmful rays cause skin cancer by causing mutations in the DNA in our cells,” Neale explained, noting that one mutation is not generally a big deal. “But what happens if that mutation occurs in a gene that’s really important for DNA repair, for example,” she said. “Then we get another mutation, and then we potentially get another mutation. And then eventually we tip our cells over into forming into a skin cancer.”

We’ve known since the 1990s that sunscreen helps lower the risk of developing skin cancer, especially the most deadly type, melanoma, and the less-lethal squamous cell carcinoma. (Basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common type of skin cancer; while it is rarely fatal, it can cause distress and be disfiguring.)

Chemicals in the crosshairs

But now there are questions about the safety of certain sunscreen ingredients.

There are two types of sunscreens: mineral (also called physical) and chemical. Mineral may be better than chemical (chemical hasn’t been studied enough is the problem) and both are better than skin cancer. But it’s truly a complicated answer.

“The physical blockers — so the titanium and zinc sunscreens — they sit on top of the skin basically and form a barrier,” Neale said. “Whereas the chemical sunscreens, they sort of bind to the top surface of the skin and turn the UV radiation into heat, (which) then disperse from the body’s heat.”

The FDA, which regulates sunscreen as a nonprescription drug, asked sunscreen makers in 2019 and again in 2021, to provide more safety data on 12 common ingredients so that they can have GRASE— Generally Regarded As Safe and Effective — status.

There are two reasons for the FDA’s request. First, because when the FDA began evaluating sunscreens in the 1970s, scientists didn’t fully appreciate how readily chemicals could be absorbed through the skin. Today, transdermal application is a common delivery system for certain medications, including nicotine, pain and hormone patches.

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The second is the amount of sunscreen we are supposed to be applying, which increased from a few dabs here and there to a shot glass-full every two hours you are outside.

“If you use it as intended, which is what would make it effective, there’s a lot more of it that’s ending up in our bloodstream than we realized and the concern is that we don’t know enough about its safety,” researcher Laura Vandenberg told Tirrell on the podcast. Vandenberg is a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and researches endocrine disruptors.

“What the FDA has asked the manufacturers of…these products to do is to do studies where the sunscreen would be used as intended and then see how much of these chemicals end up in the bloodstream,” she said. “Because the FDA has standards for how much of these chemicals should be in our blood and currently they can’t meet that standard of both safe and effective.”

Vandenberg said she has concerns about some of these ingredients, including oxybenzone, which she researches in her lab. She said studies in cell cultures and research animals show that the chemical can mimic estrogen in the body, block the actions of androgens and alter thyroid hormone function — any of which could be problematic especially in vulnerable populations, for example a baby, a child going through puberty or someone who is pregnant and their fetus.

“Disruptions to hormones can lead to life altering changes, increased risk for disease,” she explained. “And those diseases might not show up for decades in a human.”

Is your sunscreen safe? 5 facts to know about sun protection | CNN (3)

Mineral sunscreens form a barrier between the skin and the sun's rays, while chemical sunscreens bind to the top layer of skin and transform UV rays into heat that disperses, said researcher Dr. Rachel Neale of QMR Birkhoff in Brisbane, Australia.

Vandenberg also said there’s increasing evidence from human populations.

“Some of the critiques of the FDA’s actions have come from scientists that are saying, ‘Well, we haven’t ever seen anything in human populations to suggest that these chemicals can cause harm.’ And that’s not really true,” she explained.

“When we measure how much of these chemicals are being released from the body — excreted from the body in urine — and then compare people and their risk of different conditions, there are studies that show that exposures to oxybenzone are associated with increased neurodevelopment problems in children and increased metabolic problems in children, and also increased risk of thyroid hormone issues,” she said.

But Vandenberg is careful to note that correlation is not causation. “Does that mean that we can say definitively that a chemical like oxybenzone causes those effects in people? No,” she said, “because we’re not purposefully exposing some people to oxybenzone and then comparing them to a group of people who weren’t exposed ever to oxybenzone (because) those people don’t exist.”

Vandenberg, who gives credit to the FDA for asking for more safety studies, stresses that just because certain sunscreen ingredients penetrate the skin doesn’t inherently make them unsafe.

“In this case, I think that really what they’re doing is signaling that there isn’t enough evidence to say that they’re dangerous,” she said. “But that’s not the standard that we should have for products that we’re putting all over our body, for products we’re putting on the bodies of children. We want to know that they’re safe, but we also want to know that they’re doing the job because the job of sunscreens is really critical.”

How the experts protect themselves

Vandenberg and Neale agree they both need to wear sunscreen, so what do they reach for?

“I use a chemical sunscreen every day,” Neale said. “I think it’s very tricky because the properties of the chemical sunscreens make them much more pleasant to use; the physical blockers tend to be a bit thicker, and they can form a bit of a white veil on the skin.” She also relies on covering up with clothing and avoiding the sun at its strongest.

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Vandenberg has a different approach. “Based on what I know and in my own practice, I lean towards a physical sunscreen, and then use it correctly: more than you think you need, and reapplying every 90 minutes,” she said. She is quick to add that reaching for a chemical sunscreen is better than using nothing at all because “skin cancer is very real.”

Vandenberg notes that these chemicals are everywhere. “I study these chemicals. I am worried that we have allowed endocrine disruptors to be in sunscreen products, but they’re also in literally everything around us,” she said. “And removing that one product as a way to protect yourself from endocrine disruptors, and yet increasing your risk in this other area (skin cancer) is not a sound thing to do.”

“What we really need to do is demand safer products, and we can demand that from the companies that we give our dollars to,” she said. “We need to demand that of our regulatory agencies.”

For more of the conversation on sunscreens, listen to the full podcast here.

CNN Audio’s Jennifer Lai contributed to this report.

Is your sunscreen safe? 5 facts to know about sun protection | CNN (2024)

FAQs

Is sunscreen enough protection? ›

Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun's UVB rays.

What sunscreen is actually safe? ›

Mineral sunscreen may be your safest bet, though it's a hotly debated topic in the research community. The two ingredients often found in mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are marked "GRASE" (generally regarded as safe and effective) by the Food and Drug Administration.

What does sunscreen protect you from? ›

Sunscreens protect the skin. They play an important role in blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation from being absorbed by the skin. UV radiation damages the skin and can lead to sunburns and skin cancer.

Is sunscreen good or bad for you? ›

Sunscreen plays a key role in protecting your skin from the sun. When you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and water resistance, it can: Reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

Why is sunscreen so important? ›

Wearing sunscreen is one of the best — and easiest — ways to protect your skin's appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging. To help make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, dermatologist Anna Chien addresses common concerns.

Does sunscreen protect 100%? ›

The highest SPF is 100 and blocks out 99% of UVB rays. But experts don't necessarily think SPF 100 sunscreen is the best choice. This is only slightly better than SPF 30 and 50 (which is blocks 98% of UVB rays).

Does sunscreen 100% work? ›

SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 stops 99% of UVB rays from reaching your skin. And it's important to remember that SPF measurements are determined in laboratory settings where a precise amount of sunscreen is applied evenly to an area of skin, and then exposed to a controlled light source.

How long does sunscreen last? ›

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that sunscreen remain at its original strength for at least three years. That means you can use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next.

What is the #1 best sunscreen? ›

  • EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. ...
  • Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer With SPF 35. ...
  • La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen. ...
  • Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30. ...
  • Colorescience Total Protection No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. ...
  • Tizo 2 Non-Tinted Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40.
4 days ago

What to avoid in sunscreen? ›

List of Harmful Chemicals in Sunscreen and Body Care Products
  • Benzophenone-3, also known as Oxybenzone. ...
  • Avobenzone. ...
  • Butyloctyl Salicylate. ...
  • Cylcopentasiloxane / Cyclomethicone. ...
  • Formaldehyde, Diazolidinyl urea, Quaternium-15, DMDM Hydantoin and Hydroxymethylglycinate. ...
  • Homosalate. ...
  • Methylisothiazolinone. ...
  • Nanoparticles.

Which sunscreen filters are safe? ›

Zinc oxide is a very safe anti-inflammatory ingredient that forms a physical barrier on the skin, thus protecting it from irritants, and wetness. Combined with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide is the best option of filters even for the little ones.

Is it safe to wear sunscreen every day? ›

Look for broad spectrum sunscreen

“The UVL rays cause damage to our skin cells increasing the risk of skin aging and skin cancer. Using sunscreen on a daily basis is critical to protect the skin cells from this damage. This includes cloudy days when up to 80% of the UVL rays will penetrate through the clouds.”

Why is sun safety important? ›

But unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to the skin, eyes, and immune system. It can also cause cancer. There are other contributing factors such as heredity and environment. But sunburn and excessive UV light exposure do damage the skin.

How effective is sunscreen? ›

We know that SPF 15 blocks about 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. No sunscreen blocks all UV rays yet, which is why it is important to practice other sun-protective measures.

What are the pros and cons of sunscreen? ›

Chemical sunscreens are typically more user-friendly in terms of application and appearance but may pose risks of irritation and environmental harm. Physical sunscreens, while safer for sensitive skin and the environment, can be less cosmetically appealing and require more frequent reapplication.

What are the main points of sunscreen? ›

Our skin works to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is why we should use sunscreen to protect us from damaging UV rays. Even on cloudy days, our skin is susceptible to the sun's rays which can lead to skin cancer, discoloration, and wrinkles over time.

What sunscreen is good for your skin? ›

  • SUPERGOOP! ...
  • La Roche-PosayAnthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60. ...
  • EltaMDUV Clear SPF 46 Face Sunscreen. ...
  • CETAPHIL Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen. ...
  • AVÈNE Mineral Tinted Compact SPF 50. ...
  • CETAPHIL Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50. ...
  • LA ROCHE POSAYAnthelios UV Hydra SPF 50 Daily Invisible Sunscreen + Hyaluronic Acid.
Jun 21, 2024

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