A recent test conducted by Valisure, a pharmacy that tests medications before they reach consumers, found various brands and batches of sunscreen contained a potential carcinogen called benzene. Of the 296 sprays and lotions Valisure tested, benzene was detected in 27 percent of the samples. Some batches contained up to three times the restricted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concentration limit of two parts per million.
You can read more about Valisure’s findings and reactions to the report in the Dermatology Times story here.
For your convenience, we have also provided a link to the results of the Valisure study. Page 12 of this document contains the list of products that contained benzene. An additional document lists sunscreen products that do NOT contain benzene.
The Good Clinic urges our clients to wear sunscreen labeled as being “broad spectrum” with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more to avoid skin cancer. Our blog post, “The Importance of Wearing Sunscreen Year-Round,” offers tips to help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
For additional information about sunscreen and sun safety, visit the American Academy of Dermatology Association.