What are our sunscreens made of?
The use of sunscreen is crucial in our day since we are always exposed to UV radiation such as sunlight, some types of laser or mercury vapor lights which are usually used on streets or social places. These can have on us many negative health effects including different types of cancer, severe burns, spots in the skin, and premature aging, among others.
Therefore, every single person, no matter age, should apply sunscreen every morning and after 4 hours do it again. Chemical sunscreens are the most commercial, people prefer them as it doesn’t make your skin white. Its function is to absorb into your skin to transform the sun’s UV rays into heat, which is released through the skin.
Nevertheless, just because they are the most commercial doesn’t mean they are the best. Scientific studies have proven that 21 substances on this type of sunscreen aren’t safe for us or the environment.
There are 14 substances that harm our health such as aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octisalate, padimate O, sulisobenzone and trolamine salicylate. In addition, there are 10 substances that are harmful to ecosystems including benzophenone-1, benzophenone-8, OD-PABA 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-Benzylidene camphor, nano-titanium dioxide, and nano-zinc oxide. Only octocrylene, oxybenzone, and octinoxate affect both of them.
The 6 most common substances that affect human health, found on sunscreens are oxybenzone, homosalate, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, and octinoxate. These substances aren’t classified by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) as GRASE, “generally recognized as safe and effective”.
Risky Substances
Oxybenzone
The substance that you should be more careful avoiding since it’s the most dangerous of all is oxybenzone. Although this substance protects against UV radiation, it's not worth it compared to the negative effects it has on us. It behaves as a hormone disruptor, absorbing into the bloodstream, encouraging cancer and reproductive toxicity. For example, a study revealed that boy teenagers with high amounts of oxybenzone in their blood had low levels of testosterone. EWG recommends avoiding sunscreens with oxybenzone.
Homosalate
This substance is part of the group of salicylates, its responsibility is to absorb short-wave UVB rays, and it can penetrate the skin, and disrupt hormones. The European Commission proposed limiting the allowed concentration of this filter.
Octinosate
Octinoxate is a non-mineral UV filter that protects our skin from UVB rays. It's effortless to absorb into the skin. Thus, it reaches the bloodstream, causes many types of allergic reactions, hormone affects the metabolic system, affects thyroid hormone production, and harms marine life.
Octocrylene
This ingredient isn't safe in the amount it's usually used. It absorbs both UVA and UVB. This substance has also properties that moisturize your skin and make it softer. Concerns started when they discovered it had negative consequences on the endocrine disruptor. Thereby, studies were carried out therefore they assure its use is safe, however only up to a concentration of 10 percent.
Octisalate
It's an active ingredient, also known as ethylhexyl salicylate. Its purpose is to absorb UVB rays and dilute them, transforming them into heat. Concerns started when scientists discovered this substance is been absorbed 10 times more than it has to be GRASE.
Avobenzone
It's a non-mineral substance that protects our skin from UVA rays and UVB wavelengths. However, it disrupts the endocrine system by blocking the effects of testosterone in cellular studies.
Safe Substances
Zinc Oxide
This ingredient doesn't absorb, so it stays at the first layer of the skin, reflecting UVA and UVB rays. It has antimicrobial properties, reduces acne, and helps to keep the skin dry. However, zinc oxide causes concerns when present in spray or powder because we are exposed to it by inhaling it, which makes it possible to become sick.
Titanium Dioxide
This substance is a white and fine powder. In sunscreens, it's present as nanoscale titanium dioxide. When applied, it becomes a transparent barrier that absorbs UV rays protecting our health, and preventing skin cancer. Nevertheless, it's crucial not to inhale it because when it gets to our respiratory system you could become ill.
What about aquatic life?
Sunscreens affect marine life as well. When swimming or showering with this product, it's washed off to reach the ocean. This creates consequences for different aspects of the marine ecosystem the most affected, coral reefs. The nanoparticles of these substances accumulate in coral's tissues leading it to expel zooxanthellae (marine algae) that live inside their tissues. Without it, corals stop growing and reproducing as they don't have food and energy sources anymore. Thus, it turns white, that's called coral bleaching. The reef is in a situation of weakness, if its environment doesn't have good conditions, it will die. These substances influence negatively the growth and photosynthesis of the algae. In addition, marine animals are affected too, such as dolphins in which substances can't only stay in their tissues but pass through generations. As well, fish could affect its reproductive system not only by the decrease of fertility but also by causing some female characteristics in male fish.