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6 Surprising Truths About Sunscreen: What Every Health-Conscious Person Should Know

20 May

If you’ve ever been told that wearing sunscreen every day is a non-negotiable for preventing skin cancer, you’re not alone. But after years of studying toxicology and hundreds of sunscreen ingredients, I’ve learned that the story is a lot more complex. Here’s what health-conscious people like you need to know before trusting just any product on the shelf.

 

Some Ingredients May Actually Promote Skin Cancer

It sounds shocking, but studies show that certain sunscreen ingredients, like retinyl palmitate (a synthetic form of vitamin A), can break down into free radicals when exposed to sunlight. This can damage DNA, age your skin, and potentially increase the risk of tumor growth. Research by the National Toxicology Program on mice found more skin tumors when retinyl palmitate was used during sun exposure [1]. 

Always check your sunscreen’s ingredient list and avoid products with this ingredient.

A common question is whether retinol is considered toxic. Retinol has also been shown to cause DNA mutations in mice when exposed to UVA radiation [2]. This is why it’s important to read the ingredients list and follow the instructions for any products that contain retinols and talk to you doctor before using.

 

Chemical Sunscreens Enter Your Bloodstream

Chemical sunscreen ingredients don’t just sit on your skin. 

 

Research has confirmed that chemicals like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate can be absorbed into your blood at significant levels. 

 

Some of these chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption and neurotoxicity, raising safety concerns for everyone, especially children and pregnant women.

 

In fact, the FDA published a randomized clinical trial, which found that avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate in lotion, aerosol spray, nonaerosol spray, and pump spray were all “systemically absorbed and had plasma concentrations that surpassed the FDA threshold for potentially waiving some of the additional safety studies for sunscreens.” [3]

In other words, more data are needed to confirm the safety of these sunscreen chemicals yet they’re still being sold to us.

 

Only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have been deemed Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective by the FDA, so sticking with those is the safer option.

 

Fragrance-Free Isn’t Always Safe

Even if a sunscreen label says “fragrance-free,” there can be hidden fragrance chemicals inside, used to mask unpleasant smells. Terms like “fragrance,” “parfum,” or “aroma” on ingredient lists can hide dozens of undisclosed compounds, some of which have been linked to hormonal disruption or allergic reactions. 

 

For sensitive individuals or families, this is an important red flag.

 

  • Lilial is banned in Europe [4] due to toxicity concerns but is still used in the US.
  • Compounds like limonene [5] and citral can trigger skin reactions, especially with frequent use.

 

Aerosol Sunscreens Are a Breathing Hazard

Spray sunscreens create a cloud of fine chemicals that can be easily inhaled, especially by children. Inhalation allows chemicals to bypass your body’s natural filtration systems and enter your blood directly. 

 

Ingredients in aerosol sprays, like propellants and nanoparticles, have been linked to lung irritation, nervous system effects, and even contamination with carcinogens like benzene [6]. 

 

Whenever possible, opt for creams, lotions, or sticks instead of sprays.

 

Lifestyle Sun Protection Matters Too

Sunscreen isn’t your only tool for sun safety. Science supports practical lifestyle habits that protect your skin naturally, without extra chemical exposure:

 

  • Seek shade or avoid direct prolonged sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wear protective clothing like wide-brim hats and long sleeves.
  • Eat antioxidant-rich foods to help your skin resist UV damage. Good choices include tomatoes, leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, berries, and mangoes [7, 8, 9].

 

How to Choose a Safer Sunscreen

There are safer, effective sunscreens available—if you know what to look for:

  • Pick mineral sunscreens with non-nano zinc oxide as the only active ingredient. This natural mineral acts as a physical barrier, doesn’t get absorbed into your bloodstream, and is less irritating for most skin types. 
  • Avoid products with known harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate, or retinyl palmitate.
  • Choose lotions or sticks instead of sprays to prevent inhalation risks.
  • Look for third-party certifications and full ingredient transparency. Fewer ingredients usually mean a cleaner, safer product.
  • Consider products made with organic aloe, shea butter, tallow, or beeswax for gentle, nourishing sun care.

 

No sunscreen is perfect, but reading labels and making informed choices can dramatically reduce your toxin exposure—without sacrificing sun safety.

Stay empowered and protect your skin the smart way!

If you want to detoxify your home and lifestyle from toxins, so you can optimize your fertility then click this link to join the 👉🏼 Low Tox University.

References

  1. Photocarcinogenesis Study of Retinoic Acid and Retinyl Palmitate in SKH-1 Mice (Simulated Solar Light and Topical Application Study). National Toxicology Program. August 2012. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/tr568abs
  2. Mei N, Hu J, Xia Q, Fu PP, Moore MM, Chen T. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of retinol with ultraviolet A irradiation in mouse lymphoma cells. Toxicol In Vitro. 2010 Mar;24(2):439-44. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2009.10.004. Epub 2009 Oct 14. PMID: 19835946; PMCID: PMC6359890.
  3. Matta MK, Florian J, Zusterzeel R, Pilli NR, Patel V, Volpe DA, Yang Y, Oh L, Bashaw E, Zineh I, Sanabria C, Kemp S, Godfrey A, Adah S, Coelho S, Wang J, Furlong LA, Ganley C, Michele T, Strauss DG. Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Jan 21;323(3):256-267. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.20747. Erratum in: JAMA. 2020 Mar 17;323(11):1098. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.1950. PMID: 31961417; PMCID: PMC6990686.
  4. Substance Infocard: 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde. https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.001.173. Accessed 19 May 2025.
  5. Dittmar D, Schuttelaar MLA. Contact sensitization to hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool: Results of consecutive patch testing and clinical relevance. Contact Dermatitis. 2019 Feb;80(2):101-109. doi: 10.1111/cod.13137. Epub 2018 Oct 31. PMID: 30378131; PMCID: PMC6587870.
  6. Sugie H, Sasaki C, Hashimoto C, Takeshita H, Nagai T, Nakamura S, Furukawa M, Nishikawa T, Kurihara K. Three cases of sudden death due to butane or propane gas inhalation: analysis of tissues for gas components. Forensic Sci Int. 2004 Jul 16;143(2-3):211-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.02.038. PMID: 15240046.
  7. Petyaev IM, Pristensky DV, Morgunova EY, Zigangirova NA, Tsibezov VV, Chalyk NE, Klochkov VA, Blinova VV, Bogdanova TM, Iljin AA, Sulkovskaya LS, Chernyshova MP, Lozbiakova MV, Kyle NH, Bashmakov YK. Lycopene presence in facial skin corneocytes and sebum and its association with circulating lycopene isomer profile: Effects of age and dietary supplementation. Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Mar 13;7(4):1157-1165. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.799. PMID: 31024688; PMCID: PMC6475749.
  8. Roberts RL, Green J, Lewis B. Lutein and zeaxanthin in eye and skin health. Clin Dermatol. 2009 Mar-Apr;27(2):195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2008.01.011. PMID: 19168000.
  9. Walsh RP, Bartlett H, Eperjesi F. Variation in Carotenoid Content of Kale and Other Vegetables: A Review of Pre- and Post-harvest Effects. J Agric Food Chem. 2015 Nov 11;63(44):9677-82. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b03691. Epub 2015 Oct 28. PMID: 26477753.