Q. I recently read that some sunscreens contain hormones that might affect young children. I am an avid user of sunscreen. I’m concerned about any adverse effects on my children, especially my 9-year-old daughter.
What specific ingredient should I be avoiding? When I called the company they said they never heard of hormones in sunscreen. I do not want hormones absorbing through my skin or especially the skin of my 9 year old.
A. As far as we can tell there are no hormones added to sunscreens. There are, however, chemicals in some sunscreens that may have estrogenic activity, particularly when they are combined (Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Nov. 2006).
No one knows if this poses a risk for you or your children. If you wish to avoid such compounds in sunscreen, look for brands that contain physical blockers such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. According to research published in The Lancet (online May 3, 2007), such ingredients are safe for children and highly effective at preventing sun damage from both UVA and UVB radiation.
