We do not bother to read labels and buy products that we think will be good for us most of the time. But a report from Valisure found benzene contamination in popular sunscreen products. The chemical is known to cause cancer.
Here’s everything you need to know about this report and how popular sunscreen products are harmful to our skin and health.
What Valisure Report says
Valisure is a well-known pharmacy and it tests its products. The pharmacy tested at least three hundred sprays and lotions for this report. Out of all these samples of sunscreen products, 27% had benzene contamination.
On the other hand, some of these batches contained more than three times the limited FDA concentration limit. Following this report, Valisure has asked the FDA to define the limits of this carcinogenic contaminant in such products.
What is benzene?
It is crucial to understand benzene and what it does so that you do not buy products with this carcinogen. Benzene is a highly flammable and colorless liquid with an odor that smells like gasoline. You will usually find this carcinogen in crude oils, solvents and more.
Benzene is also used to synthesize various chemicals. Of course, because benzene is known as a carcinogen, it means that the chemical can cause cancer in humans. If you are exposed to benzene pollution for a long time, it increases your chances of developing leukemia, lymphoma and other such cancers.
How does benzene pollution occur in sunscreens?
You may be wondering how a carcinogen like benzene ends up in sunscreens if it is commonly known that the ingredient is harmful. Of course, the ingredient is not added on purpose. It most likely appears as a contaminant or by-product from the manufacture or in the production of another raw material.
This is because benzene contamination can occur in many aloe vera or alcohol-based lotions, alcohol sprays and more. Such contamination may result in benzene becoming the active ingredient in such products. Therefore, it is crucial to check the label on sunscreens before buying them.
Risks and dangers of benzene pollution in sunscreens
Benzene is a class 1 carcinogen according to the WHO classification. On the other hand, benzene sunscreens have high uptake risks as you use the cream over time. But at the moment, it is not clear how risky it is in the long run.
However, benzene pollution in sunscreens will only be harmful to your health when you are chronically exposed to it for an extended period of time. Because of this, you can develop various blood diseases. These include cell-based cancers, anemia and more.
Many people apply sunscreen all over their body, which is why the risk of this product is high. Of course, this can only happen through prolonged exposure. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what is inside a lotion that you use almost daily.
Such pollution does not mean that you stop using sunscreen. It is important to know which sunscreens have benzene and which do not to make the right decision.
Sunscreens with benzene pollution
According to the Valisure report, there can be as many as eleven thousand sunscreens with benzene contamination. So here is a list of sunscreens that you should avoid if you want to protect your skin and your health:
- All sunscreens from Banana Boat
- Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
- All sunscreens from CVS Health
- Goodsense sunscreen lotion, SPF 30
- EltaMD UV Aero broad spectrum sunscreen spray for the whole body, SPF 45
- Neutrogena Beach Defense Oil-Free Body Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100
- Tanned Advanced After-Sun Gel
- Walgreens Sport Lotion Sunscreen, SPF 50
- And many others
Closing words
It was your complete guide to understanding the dangers of popular sunscreen products and benzene pollution inside them. You can review the complete report from Valisure to avoid using sunscreens that contain this contaminant. After all, the skin is the most sensitive organ, and it absorbs everything.
Therefore, it is important to know what you are putting on your body and skin. Once you understand this, you can make better choices of sunscreen so that you stay healthy and happy for a long time to come.
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