The banned sunscreen ingredients and their impact on human health: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Recent evidence of high systemic absorption of sunscreen ingredients has raised concerns regarding the safety of sunscreen products. Oxybenzone (BP‐3) and octinoxate (OMC), two common sunscreen ingredients, were recently banned in Key West and Hawaii owing to their toxic effects on marine ecosystems. Their impact on human health requires a careful assessment. To summarize the current evidence on the association between the systemic level of BP‐3 or OMC and its health impact, a primary literature search was conducted using PubMed database in February 2019. There are 29 studies that address the impact of these ingredients on human health. Studies show that elevated systemic level of BP‐3 has no adverse effect on male and female fertility, female reproductive hormone level, adiposity, fetal growth, child's neurodevelopment, and sexual maturation. However, the association of BP‐3 level on thyroid hormone, testosterone level, kidney function, and pubertal timing has been reported and prompts further investigations to validate a true association. The systemic absorption of OMC has no reported effect on thyroid and reproductive hormone levels. In conclusion, current evidence is not sufficient to support the causal relationship between the elevated systemic level of BP‐3 or OMC and adverse health outcomes. There are either contradictory findings among different studies or an insufficient number of studies to corroborate the observed association. To accurately evaluate the long‐term risk of exposure to BP‐3 and OMC from sunscreen, a well‐designed longitudinal randomized controlled trial needs to be conducted.
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A systematic review of 29 studies demonstrated that oxybenzone had no adverse effects on male and female fertility, female reproductive hormone levels, adiposity, fetal growth, childhood neurodevelopment, or sexual maturation, and octinoxate had no effect on thyroid and reproductive hormone levels.
“However, a systematic review of 29 studies looking at the effects of two of the most commonly studied sunscreen ingredients-oxybenzone and octinoxate-demonstrated that oxybenzone had no adverse effects on male and female fertility, female reproductive hormone levels, adiposity, fetal growth, childhood neurodevelopment, or sexual maturation, and octinoxate had no effect on thyroid and reproductive”
From Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature (2021) · cites this paper as [53]
The evidence is not yet sufficient to support a causal relationship between elevated systemic levels of oxybenzone or octinoxate and adverse health outcomes.
“Although the review recommended further research into the effects of oxybenzone levels on thyroid hormone, testosterone level, kidney function, and pubertal timing, the evidence is not yet sufficient to support a causal relationship between the elevated systemic levels of oxybenzone or octinoxate and adverse health outcomes.”
From Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature (2021) · cites this paper as [53]
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Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature
Guan, L. L., Lim, H. W., & Mohammad, T. F. (2021) · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology · doi:10.1007/s40257-021-00632-5 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
“However, a systematic review of 29 studies looking at the effects of two of the most commonly studied sunscreen ingredients—oxybenzone and octinoxate—demonstrated that oxybenzone had no adverse effects on male and female fertility, female reproductive hormone levels, adiposity, fetal growth, childhood neurodevelopment…”
BackgroundSkin protection from solar ultraviolet radiation using natural compounds: a review
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- Authors
- Suh, S., Pham, C., Smith, J., & Mesinkovska, N. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mesinkovska, Natasha A.
- Venue
- International Journal of Dermatology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-02-28
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1033-1042
- ISSN
- 0011-9059 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-4632
- PMC
- PMC7648445
- OpenAlex
- W3007571091
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- International Journal of Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Center for Scientific Review (F30EY029136, T32EY024236, T32GM007250)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- sunscreen ingredients, benzophenone-3, octinoxate, systemic absorption, human health effects, endocrine disruption, thyroid hormones, testosterone, reproductive hormones, fertility, pubertal timing, brain development, adiposity, renal function
- MeSH terms
- Child, Female, Humans, Male, Sunscreening Agents, Ecosystem
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