Why chemical filters like oxybenzone are more dangerous than you think.
Common Chemical UV Filters to Avoid-
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone
- Octinoxate
- Homosalate
- Octocrylene
These chemicals are absorbed through the skin and have been detected in blood, urine, and even breast milk — sometimes days or weeks after a single use.
How They Disrupt Hormones - Check to see if this correlates with a known Health Condition of yours or someone You love.
Oxybenzone
- Acts like a xenoestrogen (a synthetic compound that mimics estrogen)
- Can bind to estrogen receptors, throwing off hormone balance
- Linked to lower testosterone in adolescent boys
- Associated with endometriosis, fertility issues, and earlier puberty in women
Avobenzone
- Degrades quickly in sunlight unless stabilized with other chemicals (like octocrylene)
- Can form reactive oxygen species that damage cells and DNA
- Disrupts the thyroid axis, affecting metabolism and energy regulation
Octinoxate
- Mimics estrogen and can interfere with progesterone and testosterone
- Alters signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis
- Shown in animal studies to cause reproductive system disruption
Others (like Homosalate & Octocrylene)
- Linked to androgen suppression (lowering DHEA and testosterone)
- Disrupt thyroid and adrenal hormone production
- Increase oxidative stress and inflammation in the body
These are not just “inactive ingredients.”They're bioactive, endocrine-disrupting, and often unregulated in terms of long-term human exposure.
Even small, repeated exposures can add up — especially for children, teens, and women already dealing with hormone imbalances.
Do you know of someone that uses lots of Sunscreen or regularly that suffers from any of these?