do chemicals in sunscreen cause cancer

Best answer

You may have heard or read that chemicals in sunscreens are harmful and may increase your risk of developing cancer. What do we think? The research on oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate and parabensdoes not show that they cause cancer. None of these chemicals has been classified as a cancer-causing substance by any major scientific organization.

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Sixteen of the 19 ingredients studied had no information about their potential to cause cancer. The most worrisome of these chemicals is oxybenzone, which is added to over 65 percent of non-mineral sunscreens.

The most worrisome of these chemicals is oxybenzone, which is added to over 65 percent of non-mineral sunscreens. Oxybenzone absorbs harmful UV light, but it鈥檚 also believed to cause hormone disruption and cell damage, which could trigger cancer development down the road.

While the link between sun exposure and skin cancer is clear — and the news about sunscreen is potentially alarming — that doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 have fun outdoors safely. A few simple precautions can lower your risk of developing skin cancer while using as little sunscreen as possible:

I know some groups recommend avoiding certain ingredients. A. There are two types of sunscreens: Physical blockers reflect ultraviolet rays from the sun and contain one of two active ingredients, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical blockers contain chemicals that absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays.