Can Sunscreen Give You Cancer?

Benzene has been linked to several health problems. Most concerningly, it is believed to cause blood tissue cancers. This includes leukemia and lymphomas.

This link was discovered through scientific studies. They examined over 249 sunscreen products from a total of 69 brands. These studies revealed that a concerning 27 percent contained the dangerous benzene compound. Even more alarming was the amount of benzene that was present in these products. Even a small amount is enough to cause cancer. Several high-profile brands were found to contain the dangerous chemical. This included Neutrogena, CVS, and Banana Boat.

Once the scientists found these alarming results, they requested that the FDA urgently recall these products. This will stop other people from developing cancer as a result of using these sunscreens. As sunscreen is classed as a cosmetic product, it would be in the agency’s authority.

It’s not understood why these products were found in sunscreen. Some believe that it could be a reaction caused by an interaction between some of the ingredients. There is also the possibility that it might be the result of contamination that occurred during the manufacturing process.

To understand why this news is so alarming, we need to look at how sunscreen works. To protect the user, the ingredients will be absorbed into the skin. When benzene is absorbed, it will end up in the bloodstream. There it will be able to accumulate at high levels. This means that there is a good chance that it can damage your body, and cause serious health problems, including the ability to develop cancer.

It was discovered that there were three times the level the FDA deemed to be an emergency. Though no amount of benzene is safe in sunscreen products. When considering the amount of sunscreen that would be needed to coat the skin to protect you from sun damage, you could have been exposing yourself to a potentially high level of benzene. According to some estimates, it could be as high as 0.1 parts per million. This will be enough to cause cancer.

Even worse, the more often you apply sunscreen, the higher the amount of benzene in your blood will become. The more you are repeatedly exposing yourself, the greater the risk that you will develop cancer.

However, using sunscreen isn’t an option. There is a strong chance that, without adequate protection, you will end up getting skin cancer. But these studies highlight the importance of choosing the right type of sunscreen. This will stop UV radiation, without the risk of developing cancer.