There has been many articles written in this blog regarding the concerns of chemical UV absorbers used in sunscreen
. But with summer approaching, I've recently been getting a constant stream of questions regarding a particular UV absorber ingredient used and concerns regarding the dangers it poses to one's health.
The toxic ingredient in question is oxybenzone. Oxybenzone's function works as a UV absorber, filtering' ultra violet light on the surface of the skin by converting it from light to heat. The problem with this ingredient is the harmful free radical it produces during the (UV absorption) process. If light is converted to heat in the basal layers of the skin, damage to growing cells is very likely.
Oxybenzone is a chemical used in many sun products with high Sun Protection Factors (SPF). Another common chemical to also stay away from is benzophenone. Heavily used chemical sunscreens containing these two ingredients may actually increase cancers by virtue of their free radical generating properties. An other side effect that some people (especially kids) experience when using a UV absorber sunscreen is an uncontrollable rash. Oxybenzone is a photoallergen. This means that when this ingredient becomes an allergen when exposed to sunlight. STOP USE IMMEDIATELY IF A RASH DEVELOPS AFTER APPLICATION.
In a laboratory experiment with oxybenzone and benzophenone this is what happens (this may shock some readers)