Fact Check: Sunscreen most cancer-causing products alters your hormones and is full of toxins.

Fact Check: "Sunscreen most cancer-causing products alters your hormones and is full of toxins."

What We Know

The claim that "sunscreen most cancer-causing products alters your hormones and is full of toxins" refers primarily to certain ingredients found in sunscreens, particularly oxybenzone and octinoxate. Research indicates that these chemicals can be absorbed into the bloodstream when applied topically, raising concerns about their potential health impacts. A systematic review found that while elevated systemic levels of oxybenzone (BP-3) have been associated with some hormonal changes, the current evidence does not sufficiently support a causal relationship between these levels and adverse health outcomes, including cancer (Suh et al., 2020).

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has also evaluated oxybenzone and found "equivocal evidence" of carcinogenic activity in animal studies, indicating that while there are some signs of potential harm, the evidence is not definitive (NIEHS, 2020). Furthermore, studies have shown that oxybenzone can act as an endocrine disruptor, which may affect hormonal balance (BBC Future, 2019). However, the overall consensus among health organizations is that the benefits of using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer outweigh the potential risks associated with these ingredients (Stanford Medicine, 2025).

Analysis

The assertion that sunscreen is "full of toxins" is somewhat misleading. While it is true that some ingredients, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, have raised concerns due to their systemic absorption and potential hormonal effects, the scientific community has not reached a consensus that these ingredients are definitively harmful at the levels typically encountered in sunscreen use. The systematic review by Suh et al. indicates that while there are some associations between BP-3 levels and hormonal changes, many studies report contradictory findings, and the evidence is insufficient to conclude that these chemicals cause significant health risks (Suh et al., 2020).

Moreover, the NTP's findings of "equivocal evidence" of carcinogenicity in animal studies suggest that while there may be some risk, it is not clearly established, and no evidence of carcinogenic activity was found in female or male mice (NIEHS, 2020). This highlights the need for further research to clarify the long-term effects of these chemicals on human health.

On the other hand, organizations such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have raised alarms about the endocrine-disrupting properties of these ingredients, citing evidence from various studies (EWG, 2023). However, it is essential to consider the context and the weight of evidence from peer-reviewed studies, which often provide a more balanced view.

Conclusion

The claim that "sunscreen most cancer-causing products alters your hormones and is full of toxins" is Partially True. While there is evidence suggesting that certain sunscreen ingredients, particularly oxybenzone, can alter hormone levels and have potential toxic effects, the current scientific consensus does not support the idea that these ingredients pose a significant cancer risk or are definitively harmful at the levels used in sunscreens. The benefits of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer are well-documented, and further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these ingredients on human health.

Sources

1. The Banned Sunscreen Ingredients and Their Impact on ...
2. Chemical used in sunscreen analyzed for potential ...
3. Sunscreen fact and fiction: What the science says
4. The science of sunscreen - Harvard Health
5. Sunscreen: What science says about ingredient safety
6. The trouble with sunscreen ingredients | EWG's Guide to ...
7. Evidence doesn’t show sunscreen increases cancer risk
8. Is My Sunscreen Safe? > News > Yale Medicine