Are Your Skincare Products Toxic? Sunscreen.

So far in this series, I’ve discussed why you might want to be wary of conventional skincare products like soap, shampoo, lotion, makeup, and deodorant. In this fourth and final article of the series, I want to focus on sunscreen. “Natural” sunscreens can be a hassle, but there are some very real health concerns associated with the ingredients in conventional sunscreens that might encourage you to seek out nontoxic alternatives.

Aluminum in Sunscreen

We left off last time talking about aluminum in deodorant, and why it might be prudent to avoid. Incidentally, many sunscreens also contain aluminum, so for that reason alone you should use an alternative to conventional sunscreen. For one sunscreen that was analyzed for aluminum concentration, a single application would provide 200mg of aluminum. (1) Another concern is that, as an oxidant, the aluminum in sunscreen might contribute to oxidative damage in the skin, increasing the risk of cancer.

Organic UV Filters: Easily Absorbed, and Potentially Harmful

Evidence indicates that organic UV filters are readily absorbed into the skin. One commonly used UV filter, oxybenzone, was detected in the urine, plasma, and breast milk of human volunteers after full-body sunscreen application, and was found in 96% of urine samples collected in the US during 2003 and 2004. (2, 3, 4) Other UV filters have been detected in 85% of breast milk samples in Switzerland. (5)

Many of these chemicals aren’t very stable when exposed to UV radiation, and they can form reactive oxygen species (including the oft-maligned “free radicals”) and cause oxidative damage. (6, 7, 8) One UV filter, PBSA, has been shown to induce DNA damage in human skin cells after exposure to UV rays. (9) This means that the use of chemical sunscreens could increase the risk of cancer. Some filters even lose their ability to block UV rays once they penetrate the top few layers of skin, rendering them useless. (10) To top it off, these compounds are also a common cause of photoallergic contact dermatitis. (11)

Find out why your sunscreen may be doing more harm than good.

Beyond the local effects from formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), systemic toxicity becomes a concern, since these UV filters are absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the primary concerns is their potential for endocrine disruption. Several animal and in vitro studies have found adverse developmental and reproductive effects of UV filters. (12)

For example, administration of oxybenzone (the same chemical found in 96% of urine samples in the US) to mice resulted in decreased sperm density and increased numbers of abnormal sperm. (13) And although many animal studies measured toxicity through oral administration, the authors of one review point out that exposure through dermal absorption may pose an even greater toxicity risk because the compounds aren’t digested and metabolized by the liver before entering systemic circulation. (14)

Inorganic UV Filters: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Inorganic filters are usually nanoparticles of either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Like organic filters, both types of nanoparticles can form ROS, particularly when exposed to UV light, and in vitro studies show that they can damage human cells. (15) That said, one study using human immune cells found that levels of ROS generated by nanoparticles in combination with UVA light was not greater than the level of ROS generated by UVA light alone, so nanoparticles might not contribute significantly to oxidative damage caused by sun exposure. (16)

Either way, these effects are only relevant if nanoparticles can actually penetrate the top layer of skin and reach living cells. Their ability to do so is controversial, but most evidence indicates that they can’t. Even in skin that is sunburnt or affected by psoriasis, zinc and titanium nanoparticles only penetrate the top layer of skin (the stratum corneum), which is made up of dead cells, and don’t reach living cells. (17, 18)

That said, sunburn did result in deeper penetration into the stratum corneum, and I certainly wouldn’t dismiss the possibility that repeated application of sunscreen to freshly shaven skin that is then exposed to sunlight for long periods of time (in other words, normal summertime behavior) could cause nanoparticles to make their way into living tissue. And remember those PEG compounds that can enhance the absorption of other chemicals in personal care products? They’re found in sunscreens, too.

But keep in mind that commercial sunscreens also contain many other questionable ingredients, some of which we’ve discussed in previous articles in this series. You’re better off finding a natural alternative, some of which I’ll discuss below.

Nontoxic Alternatives to Sunscreen

One problem with sunscreens in general is that often, they allow us to stay in the sun for much longer than would typically be considered healthy for our skin. We get sunburnt for a reason – it’s our bodies telling us to get out of the sun – and since some sunscreens block the rays that burn us without completely blocking the rays that can cause skin damage, we might be harming our skin without realizing it.

Mark Sisson also reviews some simple dietary changes you can make to prevent sunburn, including eating more antioxidants to protect against sun damage.

That said, I know there are times when you have to (or want to) be in the sun all day, and might not be able to cover up or seek shade. In those cases, I recommend using non-nano zinc oxide sunscreens, which have particles large enough that they aren’t absorbed into the skin. These posts from Wellness Mama and Mommypotamus have recipes for homemade zinc sunscreens, as well as links to good commercially available products.

Environmental Working Group has an online Guide to Sunscreens with tips to keep in mind before you go outside and their latest sunscreen research. They also put together an annual wallet card, Guide to Safer Sunscreens, with tips on how to read sunscreen labels, how to make smart and healthy choices when shopping for sunscreen, and other valuable information.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series on nontoxic alternatives to conventional skincare products. My intention was not to freak out my readers about the personal care products they use, or to perpetuate the fear-mongering that often accompanies discussions about chemicals we’re exposed to in our daily lives. But while there isn’t (and probably never will be) conclusive evidence that some of these chemicals can cause harm or contribute to toxin build-up in the body, there’s also not conclusive evidence that they don’t.

Given how much our bodies already have to handle thanks to modern life, I don’t see any reason to risk increasing that burden. We can’t really do much about our exposure to pollution or off-gassing building materials or a slew of other toxic things, but it’s so easy to shift to natural, non-toxic personal care products that to me, any evidence of possible toxicity from chemicals in conventional products is enough to sway me to avoid them.

What you put on your skin is critical—but don’t forget what you put in your mouth!

The skin needs over 20 micronutrients to thrive–but most people aren’t getting enough of these essential vitamins and minerals.

The Core Plus bundle from Adapt Naturals was designed to close the modern nutrient gap and provide the nutrients you need for optimal skin (and overall) health.