Are spray-on sunscreens safe?

Convenient sunscreen spray

In recent years, the number of sunscreen products has been increasing. In particular, sunscreen sprays that can be used quickly when going out or on small children are convenient. Some people may say that they are easy to use and are their favorites!

However, spray-type sunscreens actually come with some scary risks. Although this is not well known in Japan, they are not recommended in some countries.

In this article, we will explain in detail why sunscreen sprays are advised to be avoided in the West.

Why it's not recommended in the US

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) evaluates the health effects of ingredients used in everyday products, food, and cosmetics. It is a non-profit organization based in Washington DC, USA, and has influence over research institutions and safety evaluations around the world.

The EWG recommends that sunscreens containing UV absorbers be used in light of safety concerns, and that non-chemical sunscreens be used.

However, spray sunscreen, even if it is non-chemical, is a no-no.
The reason is that there is a high risk of inhaling UV scattering agents through the nose or mouth.

Specifically, the following views are presented:

• Titanium dioxide, used in non-chemical sunscreens, is safe to apply to the skin, but is harmful if inhaled through the mouth or nose.
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer has indicated that titanium dioxide may increase the risk of cancer if inhaled through the mouth or nose.
• Zinc oxide , used in non-chemical sunscreens, has unknown long-term effects if inhaled.

Non-chemical sunscreens are generally considered to be safe, but spray-type sunscreens are not necessarily safe.

Are sunscreen sprays useless?

Another country where spray sunscreen is not recommended is Australia.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with nearly 2,000 people dying from the disease each year, so awareness of cancer prevention through sun protection is high in the country.

In Australia, the Cancer Council and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency are urging people not to use spray-on sunscreens.

Why? There are two surprising reasons.

You may not be able to expect reliable UV protection from sunscreen sprays.

This was shown in a 2020 study by the Queensland University of Technology.

A study of nine commercially available sunscreen sprays found that to achieve the UV protection benefits stated on the products, it was necessary to keep spraying the product on for 4 to 14 seconds on the hands and feet, and 29 to 98 seconds on the whole body.

Moreover, this result was obtained in a windless laboratory with a good environment.
In fact, if you're outdoors, such as at the beach, in the mountains, or in a park, you'll need to spray for a longer period of time to get sufficient UV protection. This makes it difficult to apply the right amount.

Of course, the ones sold in Japan may be different, but it is true that several sunscreen sprays in Australia have produced similar results.

The content of UV protection agent is less than half?!

Among the nine products surveyed, some contained less than half the amount of sunscreen ingredients.
The other ingredients are propellants needed for the spray. Therefore, even if it says "apply an appropriate amount" or "apply generously," there is no way to know how much of the UV protection agent has actually been applied to your skin.

This means that to get the same level of sun protection as creams, you need to spray a lot of it. However, among the three types of sunscreen sprays used in the study, some contained enough that an adult could only use one product twice on their entire body.

Considering safety and cost-effectiveness, it's easy to see why we can't recommend it.

Benzene, a harmful substance found in sunscreen sprays

Benzene is a toxic chemical derived from petroleum. It is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a known human carcinogen. It is highly toxic and not considered safe in any quantity.

However, a study conducted by an independent organization in the United States found benzene in the following cosmetics and everyday products:

• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitizer
• Antiperspirants, deodorants, antifungals
• Spray type shampoo and conditioner

In this survey of 294 products from 69 brands, benzene was detected in 78 products, with the highest levels found in spray-type cosmetics.

Among these are products from major global manufacturers P&G and Johnson & Johnson. Each company recalled their products, causing a commotion, and two types of sunscreen were discontinued at major drug stores in the United States.

Why was benzene detected?

Manufacturers would never intentionally put benzene into these products, so how could it have been found in cosmetics?

In fact, the reason for this isn't clear.
The US FDA has hypothesized that the thickening agent carbomer or the spray propellant isobutene may be the cause.

What are the risks from benzene?

It is known that when benzene comes into contact with the skin, it passes through the skin and enters the bloodstream . Also, when benzene is present in high concentrations in the air, about half of the benzene inhaled passes through the mucous membranes of the lungs, enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body.

In the case of cream-type sunscreens that pose no inhalation risk, benzene is said to have almost no harmful effects.

However, as mentioned above, benzene is a harmful substance that poses the risk of being carcinogenic. In addition to cancer, if inhaled over a long period of time, it can have a harmful effect on the tissues that form blood cells, especially the bone marrow. It is said that this can have serious effects such as making blood less efficiently and reducing the number of red blood cells.

How to choose a safe sunscreen

If you have read the above, do you understand why sunscreen sprays are not recommended?

If you absolutely must use sunscreen spray, it's best to be careful about the amount and method of use.

Also, avoid spray-type sunscreens and choose non-chemical formulas.

Please note that sunscreen may not be effective if it is not reapplied every 2-3 hours. Be sure to protect yourself from UV rays by wearing UV-resistant clothing, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and parasols.