Is Your Sunscreen Safe? Unpacking the Benzene Contamination Concerns
Discover the latest on benzene in sunscreens, recall lists, health risks, and how to choose the safest sun protection.
Benzene in Sunscreen: What You Need to Know
Recent findings of benzene—a known human carcinogen—in several popular sunscreen and after-sun care products have sparked concern across the skincare and health communities. An independent laboratory, Valisure, detected high levels of benzene in 78 sunscreen and after-sun items, resulting in several product recalls and strong calls for regulatory review and consumer caution.
This article unpacks everything you need to know about benzene contamination in sunscreens: what it is, the risks involved, how benzene might end up in your sunscreen, and practical steps you can take to protect yourself while still preventing skin cancer.
What is Benzene?
Benzene is a colorless, flammable chemical commonly used in manufacturing. It is present naturally in crude oil and gasoline, and can be found in cigarette smoke, plastics, rubber, detergents, dyes, and pesticides. Major health agencies—including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Health Organization—classify benzene as a carcinogen, primarily linked to leukemia and other blood disorders through long-term inhalation exposure.
How Benzene Can Enter Sunscreen Products
- Manufacturing by-products: Benzene can accidentally contaminate personal care products through petrochemical-derived ingredients or aerosol propellants.
- Unintended contamination: Benzene is not an intended ingredient in any sunscreen but may appear due to insufficient quality controls or cross-contamination during production.
How Was Benzene Discovered in Sunscreens?
Valisure, a quality assurance lab, initially detected unacceptable levels of benzene in routine testing. In their study, they screened 293 sun care products between September 2020 and May 2021. Notably, 27% of sampled products—including both aerosols and lotions—contained detectable benzene, with some products far exceeding the FDA’s conditional limit of 2 parts per million (ppm).
- Spray sunscreens were particularly problematic, with higher incidences and concentrations of benzene detected.
- Valisure submitted their findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), petitioning for public recalls and stricter regulatory standards.
FDA Guidelines and Recalls
The FDA prohibits intentional addition of benzene in regulated products, except for rare cases where its use is unavoidable in significant therapeutic advances (where limits are set at 2 ppm). Following Valisure’s report, at least 11 recalls were initiated between April 2021 and April 2022, impacting sunscreens and other personal care products.
| Benzene in Sunscreens | FDA Position |
|---|---|
| Intentional Use | Not permitted, except in strictly limited circumstances for therapeutic advances (limit: 2 ppm) |
| Benzene as contaminant | Prohibited; recall recommended for significant contamination |
| Enforcement | Recalls and regulatory reviews triggered upon detection |
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Benzene and Cancer Risk: Should You Be Worried?
Benzene is linked primarily to blood cancers like leukemia. Its cancer-causing effects are well established in occupational and environmental exposure settings. However, the implications of benzene exposure through topical sunscreen use are less clear and currently under investigation.
- Toxicologists highlight that even with the highest-contaminated sunscreens, total benzene exposure is less than what you inhale in city air daily.
- Benzene is unstable and may not fully absorb through the skin, reducing some of the theoretical risk.
Nonetheless, experts emphasize that any avoidable carcinogen in consumer products is cause for concern, and that contaminated items should be recalled and avoided.
Comparing Risks: Benzene Exposure vs. UV Radiation
Dermatologists and oncologists stress one crucial point: the risk of not using sunscreen and developing skin cancer outweighs the potential risk posed by trace benzene contamination in most products.
- Skin cancer—including melanoma and other forms—remains the most common cancer in the United States, with UV exposure as a leading cause.
- Regular sunscreen use reduces the risk of developing skin cancers, particularly in children and young adults.
Beyond Benzene: Other Ingredients to Watch For
Octocrylene and Benzophenone
Another recent study revealed that sunscreens containing the ingredient octocrylene might form benzophenone, a suspected carcinogen with hormonal disruption potential. In a 2021 study, every tested octocrylene-based sunscreen (both sprays and lotions) from the U.S. and France contained benzophenone, which is formed over time as octocrylene degrades.
- Consumers can avoid octocrylene-based sunscreens as a precaution until more data become available.
- Benzophenone is suspected of interfering with hormones and reproductive health.
- As scientific understanding evolves, demand for alternatives and better regulatory oversight is increasing.
How to Choose a Safe Sunscreen
To minimize health risks while still effectively protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, experts recommend a few key strategies:
- Check for recalls: Look up lists like Valisure’s to confirm that your sunscreen is not among contaminated products.
- Select broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Prefer mineral (physical) sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide rather than chemical sunscreens.
- Avoid sprays when possible: Stick with lotion formats, as sprays are more likely to contain petrochemical propellants that may harbor unwanted contaminants.
- Read ingredient labels and avoid octocrylene, oxybenzone, and homosalate if you wish to limit chemical exposure.
Smart Sun Safety Practices
Proper sun protection encompasses more than just sunscreen. Combine products with protective behaviors to minimize risk.
- Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure on all exposed areas (don’t forget face, ears, lips).
- Reapply every two hours, or after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.
- Limit peak sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when rays are strongest.
- Wear lightweight, protective clothing: long sleeves and pants, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.
- Seek shade whenever possible, especially during midday.
Expert and Dermatologist Perspectives
Doctors stress that consumers should not avoid sunscreen due to the benzene scare. Instead:
- Choose brands committed to transparency and responsive recalls.
- Consider physical blockers (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) which have the least concern for chemical breakdown or contamination.
- Support calls for government and independent testing to hold manufacturers accountable.
“Don’t stop using sunscreen,” says Sherrie Bullard, MD, dermatologist. “But be selective, and use this as an opportunity for supporting improvements in skincare safety.”
Calls for Regulatory Reform and Further Research
The FDA faces increased pressure to tighten regulations, define clearer contamination limits, and require more rigorous quality controls. Ongoing research initiatives, including National Institutes of Health grants, are focusing on how chemical toxins interact with the skin barrier, aiming to address gaps in consumer product safety.
- Innovation in sunscreen formulation is likely as consumers demand safer, cleaner sun care options.
- The regulatory environment is expected to evolve as more contaminants are discovered and new screening technologies become widespread.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Should I stop using sunscreen because of benzene fears?
A: No. The risk of skin cancer from unprotected sun exposure far outweighs the hypothetical risk from trace benzene contamination. Check recall lists and use sunscreens not found to contain benzene.
Q: What type of sunscreens are safest?
A: Mineral (physical) sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are recommended. Avoid spray formulations and chemical sunscreens with octocrylene or oxybenzone if concerned about contamination or hormone disruption.
Q: How does benzene get into sunscreen if it’s not an ingredient?
A: Benzene can inadvertently enter sunscreen during manufacturing via contaminated raw materials, ingredients sourced from petrochemicals, or aerosol propellants used in sprays.
Q: Are benzene levels in sunscreen significant compared to other sources?
A: Even the highest contaminated products expose you to less benzene than a day’s worth of city air pollution, but avoidable exposures in personal care products are always a concern.
Q: Are companies taking action to address benzene and other contaminants?
A: Yes. Independent testing, regulatory petitions, and public recalls have driven companies to increase oversight, reformulate products, and improve transparency. More robust reforms are being called for at the federal level.
Key Takeaways for Sunscreen Safety
- Benzene is a dangerous carcinogen but is not intentionally added to sunscreens.
- Independent testing led to recalls of contaminated sunscreens, especially sprays, and calls for tighter regulation.
- Keep using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer—the proven risk of UV radiation is higher than the theoretical risk posed by trace benzene.
- Choose mineral sunscreens and avoid aerosol sprays when possible.
- Stay informed about recalls and support ongoing research and reform in sunscreen manufacturing.
References
- https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-sunscreen-safe
- https://health.unl.edu/can-sunscreen-cause-cancer-how-avoid-benzene/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benzene-in-sunscreen
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9113541/
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/frequently-asked-questions-benzene-contamination-drugs
- https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/5-things-to-know-about-sunscreen-benzene-and-chemicals.h00-159461634.html
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/benzene.html
- https://dermatology.ca/public-patients/sun-protection/sunscreen-and-benzene-update/
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