First of all

Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen when it comes to preventing skin cancer. To state that more strongly, sunscreen does not cause cancer, the sun does.

There is irrefutable evidence that UV radiation from the sun damages our skin’s DNA, causing melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinoma, all of which can be life-threatening.  And we’re not talking tons of sun, either – according to the American Academy of Dermatology, “it only takes one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence to nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma.”

In contrast, there are zero studies showing that any UV filter, chemical or otherwise, causes any form of cancer.

And while 95% of melanomas can be cured if they are caught early enough, New Zealand holds the dishonour of ranking #1 in the world for melanoma-related deaths. So hopefully we’re all on the same page – let’s protect our skin, and our children’s skin, from the sun. While still loving it, of course!

Okay, now let’s talk toxicity.

As we’ve described, many chemical UV filters absorb into our bodies. Is that a problem? That depends on a few things. 

1) Does that knowledge cause you to avoid sunscreen altogether? If yes, that’s a problem! If you are concerned about what’s in your sunscreen, just go mineral.

2) Once those UV filters are in our bodies, are they causing any harm?

Ever heard “the poison is in the dose?”

There’s another chemical found in our blood, urine, breast milk and amniotic fluid that, if ingested in excess, will cause hyponatremia – a potentially fatal condition with symptoms including confusion and seizures. That chemical? Water.

Scientists research toxicity by applying more and more of an ingredient to animals or cells in lab studies, until they reach the point of toxicity. Then, regulations can be set much lower to ensure these ingredients are used safely.

And sunscreens are highly regulated. Most governments have set the maximum concentrations of UV filters 100x lower than the lowest level observed to be safe. So the doses you’ll encounter in real life, including any amount you could absorb through our skin from your sunscreen, will be one hundred times lower than what’s been shown to be safe.

So yes, the chemical UV filters Oxybenzone, Octinoxate (Octyl/Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate), 4-Methyl-Benzylidene Camphor, Homosalate, Octisalate (Octyl Salicylate) and Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) have been found to cause thyroid toxicity, metabolic effects and/or endocrine effects, (NOT cancer), but only at levels you will never encounter in your sunscreen – or anywhere else for that matter.

In other words, these ingredients, as used in your sunscreen, are safe for most adults, and for older children. Actually.