New Study Finds Sunscreen Chemicals Soak Into Bloodstream

The safety of sunscreens has recently come into question as a new study finds that sunscreen ingredients may be absorbed into the bloodstream after only one day of use.

In addition, news reports state that a shocking 60 percent of sunscreens may not pass safety tests that were proposed by the FDA in February.

On May 6, the safety of sunscreen was called into question when a pilot study conducted by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and published in reputable medical journal JAMA, examined chemical sunscreens.

Unlike physical sunscreens which create a physical barrier to protect against UV rays, chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays to protect from the sun. The sunscreen study looked into four common chemical sunscreens: avobenzone, oxybenzone, ecamsule, and octocrylene.

Although the study showed that chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the body through the skin, the researchers do not recommend that consumers stop wearing sunscreen. Researchers have called for further investigation into the issue, but failing to wear sunscreen could make consumers vulnerable to skin cancer.

“Studies need to be performed to evaluate this finding and determine whether there are true medical implications to absorption of certain ingredients,” Dr. David Leffell, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology and dermatologist at Yale School of Medicine, told CNN.

On May 15, sunscreens took another hit when CNN reported that the majority of sunscreens may not pass FDA safety tests. This figure comes from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit, non-partisan group, analyzed more than 1,300 SPF products, 750 of which are marketed as sunscreens for beach or sport uses.

Although this is quite the large list, it is by no means comprehensive since there are more than 12,000 sunscreen products sold in the United States.

Director of Healthy Living Science Nneka Leiba told CNN that their results are not new, with similar figures found in past reports. However, new FDA regulations proposed this year means that many of these products may be deemed unsafe.

The FDA’s new rules would require sunscreens to provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are what cause sunburns while UVA rays cause aging and skin damage. Both types of UV rays can contribute to the development of cancer, but some sunscreens only protect from UVB rays.

According the EWG’s modeling, an estimated 25 percent of all sunscreens would fail to meet the FDA’s proposed standards for UVA protection.

With the recent sunscreen news, consumers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, regular use of sunscreen is highly encouraged because the products protect consumers from deadly skin cancer. However, it is hard to tell which products are safe and effective with recent news creating uncertainty.

Medical professionals suggest that consumers continue to wear sunscreen while the safety and efficacy of certain products and ingredients are evaluated.

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