Why you should choose a sunscreen that is free of UV absorbers (Part 1)

Is it okay to use that sunscreen every day?

The harmful effects of sunburn on the skin are now widely known.
People are worried about wrinkles and blemishes, so I'm sure there are many people who apply sunscreen every day, regardless of the season or weather.

But do you care about what ingredients are in the sunscreen you use every day?

UV absorber free

Many people find that applying sunscreen causes irritation to their skin.

Therefore, there must be many people who want to choose a sunscreen that puts as little strain on the skin as possible. Many of these people may choose products that say "no UV absorbers."

That is certainly a good choice, but why is it better not to have "UV absorbers" in it?

The safety and effectiveness of UV absorbers are unknown

In fact, various risks have been pointed out regarding UV absorbers.

In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a recommendation that regulations on sunscreen ingredients should be updated. The safety study conducted at that time revealed some shocking findings.

The safety and effectiveness of 12 sunscreen ingredients were deemed unrecognized due to a lack of data, even though all of them are commonly used in standard sunscreens.

Only two products were rated as "safe and effective sunscreens": zinc oxide and titanium dioxide .
*The table below shows some of the safety and percutaneous absorption evaluations of verified UV protection agents.

Furthermore, the endocrine disrupting properties of ingredients whose safety has not been confirmed have also been pointed out. The ingredients that have been pointed out are as follows:

• Oxybenzone
• Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
• Homosalate
• t-Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane

There are many studies showing that these ingredients have hormonal effects, so investigations are underway in various countries to confirm and regulate them.

Composition standards vary from country to country

Not only in the US, but also in the EU The Committee on Scientific and Consumer Safety has also published an opinion on the safety of oxybenzone and homosalate.

It suggests that oxybenzone should be limited to 2.2% and homosalate to 1.4% . Meanwhile, in Japan, oxybenzone can be used at 5-10% depending on the type, and homosalate can be used at up to 10%.

This is well above the standards proposed by the EU, but there are currently no plans to revise it.

UV absorbers absorbed into the body through the skin

According to the results of an FDA investigation, all of the following UV absorbers have the following effects after application to the skin: It has been shown to be absorbed into the body.

• Oxybenzone
• Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
• Homosalate
• Octyl Salicylate
• Octocrylene
• t-Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane

When UV absorbers are absorbed through the skin, their effects don't just last immediately after application. They can be detected in the skin and blood even several weeks after use has stopped. In fact, they have been found in breast milk and urine.

But that's not all.

It has also been shown that each UV absorber carries its own risks, such as strong allergenicity caused by octyl salicylate.

The risks of each UV absorber are explained in detail here . Please take a look.

* Click here for the reason why you should choose a sunscreen that does not contain UV absorbers (Part 2)