Toxins From Sunblock

Toxins From Sunblock in Your Bloodstream

If you were to make a list of your enemies, would any of your skincare products make the list? What about one of the most commonly used skincare products- sunscreen? Well, according to a study that was recently conducted by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the sunblock you are applying to your skin doesn’t just sit on top of your skin, it makes its way through your skin, and enters your bloodstream after just one day. But how does this affect us as consumers?

Sunscreen Chemicals

“The study involved 24 healthy people who applied four common types of sunscreen on their skin. Researchers randomly assigned the participants one of four sunscreens: either one of two sprays, a lotion, or a cream. They put the cream on 75 percent of their bodies, four times a day, for four days. Over the course of 7 days, including the days’ sunscreen was used, the scientists collected 30 blood samples from the participants. The team looked at four ingredients: avobenzone,  oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule.” – MSN

What this study found was that the levels of those ingredients continued to rise as the daily use of the sunscreen continued. It also found that the ingredients stayed in the bloodstream for at least 24 hours after the study had ended.

Skin Care and Sun Protection

So, now what? Do we have to take sunscreen out of our skincare routine? Absolutely not. While more studies need to be conducted in order to find out whether or not these absorbing ingredients are toxic to our bloodstream (according to the FDA), there are other options. All sunscreens tested are chemical-based sunscreens, leaving physical and mineral-based skincare products as a great alternative.

Consider covering up exposed skin, limiting your time in the sun and staying in the shade as part of your skincare routine. Skin cancer is still the most common cancer in the United States. Sunscreen is still a very important part in everyone’s skincare routine, as it poses much less of a risk than being in the sun unprotected. So, for now, continue to grant your body the UV protection it needs, and treat yourself to mineral-based skincare products with natural ingredients, while still protecting your skin from the sun.