Sunscreen lotions are used to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the suns ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause sunburns and skin cancer. However, some sunscreen ingredients have been flagged as potentially worrisome due to their potential health effects. Here are some details on sunscreen ingredients, both positive and negative, based on the search results:

Positive Ingredients:

• Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide: These are considered physical sunscreens and are labeled as safe and effective by the FDA.

Negative Ingredients:

• Oxybenzone: This is the most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient, according to publicly available scientific research. It is readily absorbed through the skin and can cause allergic skin reactions, behaves like a hormone disruptor in many studies, and may cause more harm to children.

• Octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, meradimate, padimate O, and sulisobenzone: These are chemicals that the FDA proposes need additional data from safety and efficacy testing. Some of these chemicals can cause adverse skin reactions, such as stinging and itchy skin, and may be absorbed into the users body, leading to skin irritation, hormonal disruption, fertility problems, and even skin cancer.

It is important to read the labels on sunscreen products to see whether they contain any of the concerning ingredients listed above. If a product contains any of these ingredients, it is best to put it back on the shelf and select a sunscreen thats just as effective without them. Mineral sunscreens, which often contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, are a good alternative to chemical sunscreens.