IMPACT Melanoma’s Response to the FDA Report on Sunscreen Safety
On May 6th the FDA released a report suggesting that the need for further study of some mainstream sunscreen manufacturers would need to be assessed to determine the safety of the products we’re rubbing into our skin.
The FDA’s proposed rule on sunscreen safety may be confusing to many people. We know it is. We’ve received many inquiries about it…
The long and short of it is this:
The FDA is asking sunscreen manufacturers to provide more safety data on 12 sunscreen ingredients. It should be noted that these ingredients have been used for years. The 12 ingredients identified for continued study are:
- Ensulizole
- Octisalate
- Homosalate
- Octocrylene
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone (all of the above are common in US sunscreens)
- ———
- Cinoxate
- Dioxybenzone
- Meradimate
- Padimate 0
- Sulisobenzone (all ingredients in this group are not frequently used in the US)
Oxybenzone and its derivatives, identified on the list of ingredients to be studied, are also used in cosmetics and it’s found in the urine of people who are not wearing sunscreen. Also using zinc oxide creams does not avoid preservatives or other ingredients entering the bloodstream. The question is whether there is any evidence it causes harm. So much other “stuff” enters through the skin as well.
There’s a lot of scientific language based around the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) – which in short is a measure associated with the highest plasma level below which the carcinogenic risk of a compound poses cause for concern. Read more here.
After 40 years in use there are no published studies that demonstrates toxic effects in humans related to systemic absorption of oxybenzone or other sunscreen ingredients. This study sets the stage for the FDA to conduct safety studies and to determine if any ingredients not currently approved in the US, could be.
At IMPACT Melanoma, we are most concerned about your safety. Preventing melanoma and other skin cancers is still our #1 priority. Until we have more data, preventing sunscreen toxicity is more of a theoretical risk and we need to practice sun safe behaviors. Our sun safety tools should always:
- Start with seeking shade whenever possible
- Wearing protective UV rated clothing
- Donning hats with wide brims
- Sporting sunglasses
- Applying sunscreen on exposed parts of the body.
Remember these sun safety tools; they just could save your life.
If future studies do show a harm to health with certain sunscreen compounds, we will immediately guide you to better and safer sunscreen choices. That said, preventing melanoma and other skin cancers is still our primary focus.
At IMPACT Melanoma, we are most concerned about your safety. Protecting your skin is serious business. Take it seriously. Protect the skin you’re in.
#PracticeSafeSkin
As always, if you have any questions at all, we’re here to help. Contact us anytime!
