Sunscreen Chemicals Might Affect The Bloodstream, According To A New Study

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Summer is fast approaching, and although we do enjoy the sun warmth, we do hate the sunburns. This makes sunscreen lotions very important to us during summertime or sunny weather in general. According to a new study from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sunscreens are not all very healthy as some of the chemicals can be absorbed into our bloodstream until it is not safe anymore.

However, the study is new, and so many other researches have to be done on this subject to get to a conclusion, therefore don’t stop using sunscreens.

The study process

The research involved 48 healthy men and women that used all kinds of sunscreens. All sunscreens contained the following chemicals: avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, Octyl Salicylate, and Octinoxate.

All people part of the test ave used these sunscreens for four days in a row. On the first day, they had to apply the cream on 75% of their bodies, while the following days up to four, they had to use the exact amount of cream four times a day at an interval of two hours.

The study’s results

Participants’ blood test results showed that after 21 days, the concentration of the six chemicals grew within the blood circulation system after each day of the study.

The increased chemicals stayed over the safety levels on day seven, after the participants finished the study. Homosalate and oxybenzone remained above the safety limit even on day 21.

“The fact that an ingredient is absorbed through the skin and into the body does not mean that the ingredient is unsafe, nor does the FDA seeking further information indicate such,” assures Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Rather, this finding calls for further industry testing to determine the safety and effect of systemic exposure of sunscreen ingredients, especially with chronic use.”

Unfortunately, scientists don’t have enough data at the moment to conclude their findings. “This was from just one study, so we need more information,” explains Jamie Alan, Pharm. D, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.