FDA Allowable Ingredients in Sunscreens
January 19, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The following are the FDA allowable active ingredients in sunscreens:
|
UV-filter |
Other names |
Maximum concentration |
Permitted in these countries |
Results of safety testing |
| p-Aminobenzoic acid | PABA | 15% (5% EC-will be banned from sale to consumers from 8 October 2009) | EC, USA, AUS | Protects against skin tumors in mice. Shown to increase DNA defects, however, and is now less commonly used. |
| Padimate O | OD-PABA, octyldimethyl-PABA, σ-PABA | 8% (EC,USA,AUS) 10% (JP)
(Not currently supported in EU and may be delisted) |
EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid | Ensulizole, Eusolex 232, PBSA, Parsol HS | 4% (US,AUS) 8% (EC) 3% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Genotoxic in bacteria |
| Cinoxate | 2-Ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate | 3% (US) 6% (AUS) | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Dioxybenzone | Benzophenone-8 | 3% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Oxybenzone | Benzophenone-3, Eusolex 4360, Escalol 567 | 6% (US) 10% (AUS,EU) 5% (JP) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Homosalate | Homomethyl salicylate, HMS | 10% (EC, JP) 15% (US,AUS) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Menthyl anthranilate | Meradimate | 5% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Octocrylene | Eusolex OCR, 2-cyano-3,3diphenyl acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexylester | 10% | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Increases ROS |
| Octyl methoxycinnamate | Octinoxate, EMC, OMC, Ethylmethoxycinnamate, Escalol 557, 2-ethylhexyl-paramethoxycinnamate, Parsol MCX | 7.5% (US) 10% (EC,AUS)20% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | |
| Octyl salicylate | Octisalate, 2-Ethylhexyl salicylate, Escalol 587, | 5% (EC,USA,AUS) 10% (JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Sulisobenzone | 2-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid,
3-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzenesulfonic acid, Benzophenone-4, Escalol 577 |
5% (EC) 10% (US, AUS, JP) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | |
| Trolamine salicylate | Triethanolamine salicylate | 12% | USA, AUS | Not tested |
| Avobenzone | 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione, Butyl methoxy dibenzoylmethane, BMDBM, Parsol 1789, Eusolex 9020 | 3% (US) 5% (EC,AUS)10% (JP) | EC, USA, AUS, JP | Not available |
| Ecamsule | Mexoryl SX, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid | 10% | EC,AUS (US:Approved in certain formulations up to 3% via New Drug Application (NDA) Route) | Protects against skin tumors in mice |
| Titanium dioxide | CI77891 | 25% (No limit Japan) | EC,USA, AUS, JP | Not tested |
| Zinc oxide | 25% (US) 20% (AUS)
(EC-25% provided particle size >100 nm) (Japan, No Limit) |
EC,USA, AUS, JP | Protects against skin tumors in mice |
Just Say No to Phthalates
May 22, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Phthalates, while not a household name, are abundant in a lot of skin care products. Phthalates are making their way into the news lately due to the potential dangers to the long term health of our babies. This potentially harmful man-made-chemical is often hidden in “fragrances” to help a fragrance stay on the skin longer. Skin ‘care’ for babies should be gentle, clean and kind.
But a deeper look shines the light on this sneaky use of wording!
“At this time, we do not know what the potential long-term effects might be, but there is a large body of animal studies to suggest developmental and reproductive toxicity (from phthalates) and a few human studies with changes in health outcomes as well,” Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana (from the University of Washington) told Reuters Health.
Better safe than sorry is a good rule of thumb. Get into the habit of reading every label for ingredients. When in doubt simply move on. We’ll keep you posted on new research that develops regarding potentially harmful products.
