{"id":1160526,"date":"2025-12-20T03:43:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1160526"},"modified":"2025-12-20T03:43:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:43:43","slug":"dermatologists-say-these-are-the-ingredients-to-avoid-in-sunscreen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1160526","title":{"rendered":"Dermatologists Say These Are the Ingredients to Avoid in Sunscreen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dermatologists Say These Are the Ingredients to Avoid in Sunscreen<\/h1>\n
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By<\/span><\/p>\n
Melony Forcier<\/p>\n
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\"Melony\"Melony<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nMelony Forcier\n<\/div>\n
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    \nMelony Forcier is a recent graduate and writer. She currently works as a content update editor for Brides.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \nByrdie’s Editorial Guidelines\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    Updated on June 28, 2024 08:14PM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    \"woman\"woman<\/div>\n<\/div>
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    Stocksy<\/p>\n

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    Wearing SPF is one of the most important things you can do every day\u2014not only does it help to\u00a0slow down the signs of aging by protecting against harmful UV rays, but it also helps prevent skin cancer. In fact, it’s pretty much a canon at this point that wearing sunscreen\u2014summer or winter, rain or shine\u2014is the best skincare tip out there. The most important rule of thumb\u2014regardless of the ingredients on the label\u2014is that you should find a sunscreen you love and wear it every single day.\n<\/p>\n

    That being said, even the best sunscreens are not one-formula-fits-all. If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to redness and irritation or like to stay on the safe side when it comes to protecting the environment, then there are certain ingredients that dermatologists say are best to avoid. Keep reading to learn about six different ingredients to avoid in sunscreen, according to dermatologists. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Meet the Experts<\/p>\n

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    • Dr. Aanand Geria\u00a0is a board-certified dermatologist based at Geria Dermatology in Verona, New Jersey.<\/li>\n
    • Dr. Tiffany Libby, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist & Mohs surgeon.<\/li>\n
    • Dr. Karen Kagha is a board-certified dermatologist.<\/li>\n
    • Dr. Brendan Camp\u00a0is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      01<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Retinyl Palmitate <\/span><\/h2>\n

      Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant. We’re normally fans of these things in our routine\u2014but when retinyl palmitate meets your skin and<\/em> the sun, that’s when the problems begin.\n<\/p>\n

      “This form of vitamin A is added to sunscreens as an antioxidant. However, it can potentially increase the risk of skin cancer when exposed to sunlight,” says dermatologist, Aanand Geria, MD, who notes that animal studies have shown that, when exposed to the sun, the ingredient forms free radicals, which is quite literally the opposite reason you want antioxidants.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      02<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Avobenzone <\/span><\/h2>\n

      “Avobenzone is an ingredient included in chemical sunscreens,” says dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD. “It is destabilized upon light exposure, so it is often coupled with other ingredients to maintain its efficacy at protecting skin from UV radiation. Avobenzone has been reported to be a possible cause of allergic contact dermatitis,” he explains.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      03<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Oxybenzone\/Octinoxate <\/span><\/h2>\n

      “When at effective levels, certain chemical UV filters, namely oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been found to negatively impact coral reefs and contribute to coral bleaching,” says dermatologist, Tiffany Libby, MD. “Reef-safe sunscreens are those with mineral blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are considered safer for coral reefs,” she continues. Also, she points out that some sunscreens will include “reef-safe” to help guide consumers who are particularly interested in this topic.\n<\/p>\n

      Dr. Libby adds that oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3, was awarded the allergen of the year in 2014 and is the most common sunscreen ingredient known to cause photoallergic contact dermatitis.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      04<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Homosalate <\/span><\/h2>\n

      Homosalate is a commonly used chemical in sunscreens and other skin care products containing SPF, which helps prevent the absorption of the sun’s most harmful rays. But it’s also potentially an endocrine disruptor which some studies suggest could impact the hormones. “Homosalate has been linked to skin allergies and hormone disruption,” Dr. Geria says.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      05<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Methylisothiazolinone <\/span><\/h2>\n

      Methylisothiazolinone is an ingredient seen in countless skincare products, due to its efficacy as a preservative. While it preserves the shelf-life of some products, it’s not great for sensitive skin. “This ingredient can cause allergic reactions for some people, particularly those with sensitive skin,” Dr. Geria says.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      06<\/span>of 06<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Fragrance <\/span><\/h2>\n

      Dermatologist, Karen Kagha, MD, recommends that those with sensitive skin should opt for sunscreen without fragrance as this can be a common allergen. “I also prefer those with sensitive skin to use mineral-based sunscreen over chemical sunscreen (chemical sunscreens can also be an allergen),” she adds.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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      So, What Is the Safest Sunscreen? <\/span><\/h2>\n

      Our experts agree that mineral-based sunscreens are typically the best choice for those with sensitive skin because chemical sunscreens can be an allergen. And being that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are recognized as the most “safe and effective,” ingredients in sunscreen and they’re both components of mineral sunscreen, mineral sunscreens are typically regarded as the safest choice of sun protection. It’s also best to avoid the ingredients mentioned above.\n<\/p>\n

      But, unfortunately, ‘safe sunscreens’ are not one-size-fits-all and mineral versions aren’t necessarily the only choice. To help narrow down your choices, here are some contenders to consider: Lightsaver’s Tinted – Activated Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum – SPF 33 is a mineral formula free of the aforementioned ingredients\u2014plus, it’s reef-safe. Round Lab’s Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen is Korea’s best-selling sunscreen, and it lives up to the hype; it’s white-cast free, hydrating, infused with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, and reef-safe.<\/p>\n

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      FAQ<\/div>\n
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        Which sunscreen ingredient was banned?<\/span><\/div>\n
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        Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two common sunscreen ingredients that were recently banned in Hawaii and Key West, FL for their effects on the coral reefs and marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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        What are the two safe ingredients you should look for when buying sunscreen?<\/span><\/div>\n
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        According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), two ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are regarded as GRASE, which means: “generally recognized as safe and effective.” They are both found in mineral sunscreens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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        Article Sources<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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        Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.<\/div>\n
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        1. \n

          American Cancer Society. How do I protect myself from ultraviolet (UV) rays?. Updated July 23, 2019.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Suh S, Pham C, Smith J, Mesinkovska NA. The banned sunscreen ingredients and their impact on human health: a systematic review.\u00a0Int J Dermatol<\/em>. 2020;59(9):1033-1042.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Research C for DE and. An update on sunscreen requirements: the deemed final order and the proposed order.\u00a0FDA<\/em>. Published online March 26, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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          Read more:<\/div>\n
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          • Skin<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Sun Care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

            Source URL: https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/sunscreen-ingredients-to-avoid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Dermatologists Say These Are the Ingredients to Avoid in Sunscreen By Melony Forcier Melony Forcier Melony Forcier is a recent graduate and writer. She currently works as a content update editor for Brides. Byrdie’s Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 28, 2024 08:14PM Stocksy Wearing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1160529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[83],"class_list":["post-1160526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-byrdie-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1160526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1160526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1160526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1160529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1160526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1160526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1160526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}