It used to be easy to pick a sunscreen. Walking into a store and finding the ideal Sun Protection Factor (SPF) was the main hurdle. Over time, spray-on products became available, making sunscreen much easier to apply. Today, choosing the best sunscreen is far more complex.
The reality is that 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Catching skin cancer early is essential, but you also must protect your skin.
Current recommendations are to apply sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) every two hours or after getting out of water or sweating excessively. Applying sunscreen around 15 minutes before going outside is also important. Your skin needs time for the cream to absorb into the deeper layers.
This is where it gets tricky. Scientific evidence shows that the ingredients that keep people from getting skin cancer are also damaging marine life. Chemical sunscreens are damaging coral reefs and marine life. There’s also evidence that avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, octinoxate, and oxybenzone were entering the bloodstream and exceeding the FDA’s safe levels.
Every year, sunscreen washes off swimmers and enters waterways. The chemical runoff is causing significant damage.
The risk of skin cancer can’t be ignored, but you also cannot ignore the importance of fish and the delicate marine ecosystem. Buying sunscreen requires far more thought and research.
Sunscreen’s Toll on Marine Ecosystems
Sunscreen’s impact on marine life is prompting companies to develop new sunscreen formulations. The damage to coral reefs is apparent.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two of the biggest offenders. When those chemicals wash off your skin and reach corals, their tissues absorb them. It triggers a stress response.
Normally, coral houses zooxanthellae, colorful organisms that provide the coral with food and energy. Zooxanthellae also provide coral’s vibrant color. When they absorb sunscreen chemicals, the stress causes them to expel those organisms. Not only does this bleach the coral’s color, eventually turning it white, but it also starves the coral.
Young coral is also impacted. Oxybenzene encases the young coral, preventing proper growth. They end up dying.
That’s just coral. The same chemicals impact other sea animals.
- Dolphins: Enters tissue and can be transferred to baby dolphins.
- Fish: Decreases fertility and reproduction.
- Green algae: Impairs photosynthesis and growth, thereby depleting a vital food source for some aquatic life.
- Mussels: Can cause defects in young mussels.
- Sea Urchins: Impacts the immune and reproductive systems and causes deformities in baby sea urchins.
Impacts on Human Health
Sea life isn’t the only organism that’s impacted by sunscreen chemicals. Recently, the FDA changed its regulatory position on sunscreen ingredients. They’re not classified based on safety data.
FDA Category | Classification | Ingredients |
Category I | Generally Recognized as Safe & Effective (GRASE) | Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide |
Category II | Not GRASE (Banned) | PABA, Trolamine Salicylate |
Category III | Insufficient Data to Classify | Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone |
Earlier, I mentioned that studies show the chemicals enter the bloodstream and reach unsafe levels. That’s the reason the FDA is hesitant to classify these chemicals as GRASE.
The concentrations found in blood routinely exceed the FDA’s safety threshold of 0.5 ng/mL. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of higher levels.
When tested on animals, oxybenzone showed weak hormonal (estrogenic and anti-androgenic) activity. Dermatologists now recommend that people with sensitive skin, pregnant women, and infants use mineral-based formulations.
Sunscreen: Ingredients Matter
When you shop for sunscreen now, you can choose between mineral and chemical UV filters. They work differently.
Chemical Sunscreens
The synthetic compounds in chemical sunscreen absorb into the top layers of skin and absorb UV rays. The resulting chemical reaction converts UV radiation into heat and releases it through the skin.
Those chemicals include:
- Avobenzone
- Homosalate
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
Chemical sunscreens are lightweight and don’t leave white residue. That’s what makes them so popular with people. You do need to allow time for the sunscreen to absorb into the skin.
Mineral Sunscreens
Have you ever seen the methods hippos use to keep cool on a hot, sunny day? They cover themselves in mud. It’s a natural sunscreen. Minerals in the mud help block the UV rays.
Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin, creating a shield against the sun. They reflect the UVA and UVB rays, sending them away from the body.
Because the minerals create a shield on the skin, they’re not absorbed. You can go outside right after applying it. It’s also less likely to irritate sensitive skin or eczema.
Staying Compliant: Regional Sunscreen Bans
As more studies come out, some states are taking action. They’re banning the use of chemical sunscreens. If you live in or travel to one of these states, a mineral sunscreen is required. You could find your favorite product confiscated or be fined for using it.
Florida (Key West)
While Key West established a chemical sunscreen ban in 2019, Ron DeSantis established a state-wide law prohibiting chemical sunscreen bans in any area of Florida. It’s still recommended that people avoid products that damage the coral reefs.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s Senate Bill 2571 established the first ban on chemical sunscreens containing octinoxate or oxybenzone. These chemical sunscreens cannot be sold or distributed without a prescription.
The U.S. Virgin Islands
This island chain is a territory, not a state, but it has one of the strictest bans. With the Toxic 3 O’s Sunscreen Ban, the distribution, importation, and sale of any sunscreen containing octinoxate, octocrylene, or oxybenzone is banned. Retailers who ignore the law face fines of up to $2,000.
The Realities of Reef-Safe Marketing
As chemical products gave way to newer formulations, a “Reef-Safe” label appeared. Products started adding that or similar terms to the labels. The problem is that the FTC doesn’t have clear guidance on what makes a product reef-safe.
When you see reef-friendly or reef-safe on a label, it’s simply a marketing strategy. There’s no guarantee the product meets the guidelines for non-nano minerals.
How to Choose a Safe, Effective Sunscreen
How do you choose a sunscreen that works and doesn’t potentially impact your health or marine life?
- Choose water-resistent formulas
- Look for titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (non-nano minerals)
- Select lotions over aerosol sprays
Instead of relying on sunscreen, consider covering up. UV-protective clothing shields your skin in lightweight long-sleeved shirts and pants. UV swimwear is another option. Add a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protective sunglasses, and sun glee gloves.
Recycling Old Sunscreen
What do you do with the chemical sunscreen you own that’s expired or won’t get used? Instead of throwing it in the trash, use Recycle Nation’s interactive recycling guide to find where you can recycle household chemicals.
This protects the environment by preventing sunscreen products from ending up in soil and groundwater as they sit in a landfill. Our new AI recycling search tool is ready to answer your questions and direct you to the best place for all your recycling needs.
