There’s Still Scary Stuff in Sunscreen

In 2019 the Food and Drug Administration told sunscreen manufacturers it had safety concerns about 12 ingredients that give so-called chemical lotions and sprays their protective power. The one that became the poster child for concern among researchers and consumer advocates was oxybenzone. It can upset the balance of hormones in ways that may increase cancer risk and lead to shorter pregnancies as well as lower testosterone levels in adolescent boys, studies have shown. Oxybenzone has been found in amniotic fluid and breast milk.

Four years later, oxybenzone has been largely eliminated as an ingredient—though manufacturers typically can’t get to an SPF above 50 without adding it to the mix, so it can still be found in popular brands. The percentage of chemical sunscreens with oxybenzone on the market fell from 60% in 2019 to 13% this year, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization in Washington, DC.