Now that summer is approaching, it's time to use our sunscreen more than ever. It is essential to protect ourselves from harmful sun rays, which cause aging and skin problems. But do all sunscreens protect equally? Recent studies have determined that certain components in chemical sunscreens can harm our health, but there's no need to panic, as we have identified them. Some chemical UV filters, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate, are potentially toxic and possibly endocrine disruptors, so we must be careful with them. But do we know what an endocrine disruptor is?
What is an endocrine disruptor?
Let's start at the beginning: what is an endocrine disruptor? Endocrine disruptors are known as chemical substances that affect the human body's hormonal system, either by altering or blocking hormone production. By interfering with the endocrine system, this can cause health problems, as this system is responsible for regulating different bodily functions which, by preventing the release of hormones, do not work correctly. That is why we must identify endocrine disruptors to avoid their use.
What endocrine disruptors do we know?
There is a wide variety of endocrine disruptors, but the most well-known are bisphenol, phthalates, and other pesticides, as well as some UV filters used in different sunscreens. But the ones we must know how to recognize are:
- Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)
- Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate)
- Homosalate
These three are the most dangerous for our health, and recognizing them will help us avoid them, but don't worry, we'll help you detect and avoid them.
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)
First, what is Oxybenzone? It is a UV filter responsible for protecting us from UVA and UVB rays, widely used in chemical sunscreens, so it is common to find this substance in the population. To identify it, you just have to look at the ingredient label and look for Oxybenzone or Benzophenone-3. If you find it, you know that this sunscreen is not very safe and can harm your health, as it is one of the most toxic components in a sunscreen.
But is Oxybenzone really that bad? There are multiple studies on its negative effects. A study conducted by Dr. Margaret Schlumpf in 2004, along with her team at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and published in *Environmental Health Perspectives*, showed that this chemical component is absorbed by the skin, thus confirming its systemic absorption once applied.
This is not the only study on the matter. Another study conducted in 2008 by the University of Texas by Dr. Cheryl Watson and her team, published in *Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology*, shows that this toxic component is capable of mimicking estrogen. This implies that it can alter hormonal balance, since once absorbed, it binds to estrogen receptors, activating estrogenic signaling.
Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate)
Octinoxate is another component we should be careful with, as it is used to protect from UVB rays, thanks to its ability to absorb UV radiation and prevent skin damage. To identify it in the ingredient list, look for Octinoxate or Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and avoid using sunscreens that contain it as an ingredient, as there is also scientific evidence of its toxicity.
Among the scientific evidence, octinoxate appeared in a 2006 study by Dr. Kurunthachalam Kannan and the Advent Health University of New York, published in *Environmental International*. This study showed that it acts as an endocrine disruptor, as it affected thyroid function and the reproductive system in rats, so it could affect the human endocrine system.
And that's not all, because in 2012, we found another study by Dr. Willa Sun and Peking University, published in *Chemosphere*, which showed that in fish, octinoxate altered the production of sex hormones, which affected the development of the fish, as well as their reproduction.
Homosalate
Finally, we have Homosalate, a component used to absorb UVB rays, as it improves the stability and effectiveness of other UV filters. We can find it as Homosalate in the ingredient list, being just as toxic as the other components, and it is best not to use it.
Among its studies, in 2013, a study by Dr. Tamara Galloway at the University of Exeter, UK, and published in the *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, showed how this component is capable of bioaccumulating in the body, raising concerns about long-term health safety, as it can have chronic toxic effects.
Years later, in another study in 2015 by Dr. Thomas Zoeller of the University of Massachusetts, and published in *Endocrine Reviews*, warned that homosalate can interfere with hormonal function, as it affects hormone receptors, but it is still too early to determine its effects.
How do these components affect us?
We already know which components to avoid and how to identify them in the ingredient list, but do we know how they affect us? There are multiple consequences of using these components in our daily lives, so we must be alert, the most important being:
- Hormonal dysfunction
- Infertility and Reproductive Problems:
- Breast and testicular cancer:
- Risks in Child Development
- Neurological development
- Reproductive Development.
Hormonal dysfunction
Among the consequences of how it affects the human body, we find hormonal dysfunction, since by altering the endocrine system, this causes fertility and reproductive problems, as we can see in a study conducted in 2010 by Dr. Russ Hauser at Harvard University, and published in *Fertility and Sterility*, which showed that exposure to some UV filters, such as oxybenzone discussed above, leads to a decrease in sperm quality in men, and this is not the only consequence.
Regarding breast and testicular cancer, a 2012 study conducted by Dr. Philippa Darbre at the University of Reading, UK, and published in *Journal of Applied Toxicology*, found that oxybenzone may contribute to an increase in breast cancer. According to cultures performed, this component affects the growth of breast cancer cells.
Risks in Child Development
Not only adults are at risk of suffering the negative effects of these components; children are especially vulnerable to endocrine disruptors as their development is faster, affecting developmental problems and other diseases. As we see in a study conducted in 2013 by Dr. Lisa A. Croen at the Kaiser Permanente Research Institute, published in *Environmental Health Perspectives*, it was found that prenatal exposure increases autistic disorders, affecting the neurological development of the fetus. And it is not the only study.
In 2015, a study conducted by Dr. Shanna H. Swan at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, published in *Human Reproduction*, showed that the development of the reproductive system in children was altered by exposure to octinoxate. The higher this exposure, the greater the possibility of genital malformations and problems in testicular development.
What safer options do we have?
All these negative effects are scary, we know, but there is no need to panic; among the alternatives, we find physical or mineral sunscreens. These creams are much safer for our health, as they are made from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, so the skin does not absorb them; instead, they remain on the skin, reflecting sun rays. And if you have sensitive skin, you're in luck: they are an excellent option for people with sensitive skin, as they do not cause irritation and are safer for the environment because they are biodegradable and non-toxic.
These physical or mineral sunscreens offer great benefits to our skin, and some disadvantages, which stand out:
Which sunscreen to buy?
Even so, we must not get carried away by the disadvantages of physical or mineral sunscreens, as their formulas have been highly developed, and there are sunscreens with color to avoid that white film on the skin, as well as lightweight ones to facilitate their application. So if you are looking for a cream with these conditions, Nuura's sunscreen is perfect for you, as it leaves no residue on the face and is perfect for daily use thanks to its light texture.
How to identify a physical or mineral sunscreen?
Identifying a physical or mineral sunscreen is easy if you know how; the key is in the ingredients. If it says it's made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, that cream is safe. But if you want to be extra sure, it usually also states that it's made with plant-based ingredients. And that's it! With these two pieces of information, you'll know how to safely find your physical or mineral sunscreen. But this isn't our only recommendation for you.
Recommendations
As a recommendation to get the most benefit from your sunscreen, we recommend using two different creams in your sunscreen routine, one physical and one chemical, as long as your chemical sunscreen is free of toxic components, so remember well the tips on how to identify a toxic component that we have given you. Also, keep in mind that the regulatory authority continues to review sunscreen components to offer you greater safety.
- Use chemical and physical sunscreen.
- The combination of both sunscreens allows you to take advantage of the benefits of both methods, providing more effective protection and reducing the chemical filters used, thus reducing the use of endocrine disruptors. Remember to buy a chemical cream that is toxic-free and enjoy the summer.
- Regulation and safety of ingredients
- Regulatory authorities are reviewing some UV filters, revealing their possible endocrine damage, so stay updated on new discoveries about toxic components.
Regulations
And not only does the regulatory authority review the components of the bases, both in Europe and in the US, certain limitations are still being added to possibly toxic components, so we are in good hands. Of course, don't forget to stay up to date on new restrictions, so you'll avoid buying a toxic sunscreen.
- Europe
- In 2021, ECHA recommended stricter restrictions for certain components, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, in sunscreen products, due to their strong environmental and human health impact.
- USA
- The FDA in 2019 requested more safety data from manufacturers regarding several chemical UV filters, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, in order to improve long-term risks.
Conclusion
Now that summer is here, it's time to get serious and analyze whether our sunscreens are safe for our health. We now know how to identify toxic components and their alternatives, so it's the perfect time to buy a physical sunscreen. Combining both creams will allow us to enjoy the summer without any risk to our skin or our health, and above all, being much more respectful of the environment. And remember that new information about possible toxic components in sunscreens comes out every day, so stay updated on them.
Now that you know everything there is to know about toxic components and how to identify them, it's time to enjoy the sun safely.
