Does sunscreen in your blood hurt you?
The banned sunscreen ingredients and their impact on human health: a systematic review.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
One short-term clinical trial showed no change in thyroid hormones after a week of using sunscreen with oxybenzone—even though some observational studies suggested harm.
It contradicts the idea that even brief exposure disrupts hormones, and suggests the body may compensate quickly.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a teen boy or a woman concerned about kidney health, consider switching to mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) as a precaution.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
One short-term clinical trial showed no change in thyroid hormones after a week of using sunscreen with oxybenzone—even though some observational studies suggested harm.
It contradicts the idea that even brief exposure disrupts hormones, and suggests the body may compensate quickly.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a teen boy or a woman concerned about kidney health, consider switching to mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) as a precaution.
Publication
Journal
International journal of dermatology
Year
2020
Authors
Susie Suh, Christine T. Pham, Janellen Smith, N. Mesinkovska
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Claims (5)
Studies have looked at whether a common sunscreen chemical called oxybenzone affects people’s ability to get pregnant or have healthy babies, and so far, there’s no clear link — it doesn’t seem to hurt fertility in men or women.
Using sunscreen with oxybenzone doesn't reliably mess with your thyroid hormones—some studies say it might lower them a bit, but most say it doesn't do anything noticeable, even in pregnant women.
Most studies say that using sunscreen with oxybenzone while pregnant doesn’t seem to harm the baby’s growth, brain development, or when they hit puberty—but one study found baby boys might be a bit heavier, and another linked it to a rare bowel condition.
A study found that women with higher levels of a common sunscreen chemical (oxybenzone) in their bodies also had more protein in their urine, which can be an early sign that their kidneys aren’t working as well as they should.
Some studies suggest that teens who have more of a common sunscreen chemical (oxybenzone) in their bodies may have lower testosterone levels, but other studies didn’t find any link to fertility problems—so it’s not clear if this really matters yet.