Some of the sunscreens used to protect people against skin cancer contain a chemical that can break down into a suspected carcinogen, according to a Yale School of Medicine dermatologist, and the name of the ingredient is on the label.
While benzene, also a carcinogen, was found to have contaminated five Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreens, which were recalled by Johnson & Johnson, octocrylene is an active ingredient in many common sunscreens, said Dr. Christopher Bunick, who is an associate professor of dermatology and has his own practice.
The problem, Bunick said, is that octocrylene can break down into benzophenone, which has been linked to cancer and which also can affect reproductive and hormone systems. A study published in March in Chemical Research in Toxicology found “The presence of octocrylene in a commercial product implies a threat of considerable contamination by benzophenone.” Benzophenone has been banned in California since 2012.
While a trade organization has disputed the studies findings, saying it “needlessly misleads” consumers, Bunick has called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate octocrylene further.
A group of scientists also recently petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to remove for sale all sunscreens containing the active ingredient octocrylene, Bloomberg reported. An FDA spokeswoman told Bloomberg that the agency “’will continue to monitor the sunscreen marketplace to help ensure the availability of safe sunscreens for U.S. consumers,’ while it evaluates the contamination concerns.”
Octocrylene is one of 14 ingredients approved by the FDA as a sun protection factor. It is found not only in sunscreens but in shampoos, hairsprays, tanning oils and conditioners, according to the study in Chemical Research in Toxicology.
Octocrylene is “a very common ingredient in chemical-based sunscreens,” which absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays, Bunick said. According to the study, benzophenone increases in the product as it ages. “Expired sunscreen with octocrylene may have a higher amount of benzophenone,” Bunick said.
The study said the safety of octocrylene as a benzophenone generator in SPF [sun protection factor] or any consumer products should be expeditiously reviewed by regulatory agencies.”
Bunick said a better choice of sunscreen than chemical-based products are mineral-based ones, he said, which reflect UV rays so they don’t reach the skin. Mineral-based sunscreens typically are made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These are the white creams traditionally seen on lifeguards’ noses.
“Not all mineral-based sunscreens leave you so white anymore,” Bunick said. “There’s even tinted mineral-based sunscreens, as well” that mimic skin tones.
Bunick said the FDA should investigate octocrylene to determine how dangerous it is. “In terms of safety, it’s probably best to avoid octocrylene until the FDA can investigate,” he said.
At least consumers can avoid products with octocrylene by looking at the list of ingredients. “Consumers could not go to the store and know that the product was contaminated with benzene,” which led to the recall, Bunick said.
The benzene issue was discovered by Valisure, a New Haven pharmacy that tests all the medications it dispenses.
Alexandra Kowcz, chief scientist for the Personal Care Products Council, a trade group, issued a statement about the Chemical Research in Toxicology study, which she said “perpetuates misinformation and needlessly misleads and scares consumers about the safety of sunscreen products, potentially discouraging sunscreen use and putting consumers’ health at risk.”
Her statement continued, “The study claims the sunscreen ingredient octocrylene can naturally degrade into the chemical benzophenone and increase in concentration as sunscreen products age, suggesting a potential risk to human health.
“However, global regulatory agencies have concluded that octocrylene is safe as a UV-filter in products such as sunscreen cream and lotion, sunscreen pump spray, face creams, hand cream and lip products. It is important to note that the report’s authors concluded that additional research should be conducted,” the statement said.
edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
Yale med school doc wants FDA to study sunscreen ingredient - New Haven Register
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