Many commercial sunscreen products contain ingredients which latest research reveals may cause serious problems:

• Octyl-methoxycinnamate – produces free radicals (singlet molecular oxygen) known to be toxic to cells (1)
• Titanium dioxide – causes DNA damage (the cells genetic material) due to superoxide radicals, active oxygen radicals and hydroxyl radicals when exposed to light (2) (3) (4)
• Oxybenzone – is rapidly oxidised in the presence of light and inactivates important antioxidant systems in the skin (the skin’s natural protection system) (5)
• PABA – produces free radicals in the presence of light (1)
• Cinoxate – causes DNA damage (sister chromatid exchanges) (6)
• Padimate-O – produces free radicals in presence of light (singlet molecular oxygen) and substantially increase indirect damage (strand breaks in DNA) when in contact with cells (1) (7)
• Dibenzoylmethane and Parsol 1789 – produces free radicals responsible for direct DNA damage (strand breaks) (8)
• Methyl sinapate – causes DNA damage (chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges) (9)
• Phenylbenzimidazole sulphonic acid and 2-phenylbenzimidazole – acts as photosensitisers of DNA damage when exposed to sunlight or UV- B radiation (10)

Medical Research Papers

1. Chem Res Toxicol 1996 Apr-May; 9(3):605-9

2. Mutat Res 2000 Mar 3; 466(1):1-7

3. Free Radic Biol Med 1999 Aug; 27 (3-4);294-300

4. FEBS Lett 1997 Nov 24; 418(1-2):87-90

5. J Invest Dermatol, 1996 Mar 106(3):583-6

6. Mutat Res 1989 Jun 21;2(2): 213-21

7. Mutat Res 1999 Jul 21;444(1): 49-60

8. Free Rad Biol Med 1999 Apr; 26(7-8):809-16

9. Mutat Res 1989 Jun; 212(2):213-21

10. Chem Res Toxichol 1999 Jan; 12(1):38-45