Oxybenzone

2-5 year old preschoolers â€ĸ Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Safe for preschoolers to use Oxybenzone?

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NOT RECOMMENDED
Danger Score: 6 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Oxybenzone not recommended for 2-5 year old children when used in topical products. Consider preschooler activity levels.

â„šī¸General Overview

Oxybenzone is a chemical used in some sunscreens. For toddlers and preschoolers (2–5 years), it is more concerning than ingredients that sit on top of the skin because it can get into the body and has been linked in studies to hormone changes and allergic reactions. That makes it a moderate concern for regular use on young children.

✅What to Do

When protecting a 2–5 year old from the sun, choose sunscreen products that do not list oxybenzone. Prefer mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, dress children in sun-protective clothing and hats, stay in the shade during peak sun hours, and use sunscreen only on exposed areas. If you must use a sunscreen with oxybenzone, apply it sparingly, avoid broken skin, do a small patch test first, and do not use it on infants under 6 months.

âš ī¸Warnings

Watch for rash, redness, swelling, blistering, or other signs of a skin reaction — stop use and see a doctor if these occur. Be especially cautious if your child has a history of sensitive skin or allergies. The concern comes from multiple scientific studies and regulatory reviews that report skin absorption, possible hormone-related effects, and cases of allergy/photoallergy, and from some national limits on its use.

Confidence: HIGH

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Absorbed: Multiple skin-absorption studies and a randomized clinical trial show oxybenzone can pass through skin and be found in blood after normal sunscreen use.
Immune system: Human case reports and photopatch testing show oxybenzone can cause immune reactions and photoallergic responses in some people.
Eczema: There are documented human cases of photoallergic contact dermatitis linked to oxybenzone, showing it can trigger or worsen eczema-like skin reactions.
Hormones: Laboratory and animal studies, and regulatory reviews in the European Union, report that oxybenzone can disrupt hormone systems at some doses.
Builds Up: A biomonitoring study found markers consistent with oxybenzone exposure in people, indicating it can accumulate in the body over time.
Organ Risk: Cell and animal studies show oxybenzone can produce extra reactive oxygen species and has been linked to organ-level effects in animal tests, which could harm organs with repeated exposure.
Cancer: Some animal studies have shown tumor formation at moderate doses and lab work shows cellular changes that can lead to mutations, indicating a potential cancer risk in long-term, high exposures.
Banned: Regulators in some countries restrict or limit oxybenzone in certain cosmetic uses (for example, national restrictions on concentrations and product types), leading to local bans or limits.
Environmental: Ecotoxicology studies link oxybenzone to harm in marine life, including effects that promote coral bleaching, so it poses risks to the environment.
Long-Term Risk: Because oxybenzone is absorbed, can build up in people, disrupt hormones, and cause cellular changes in lab studies, it carries potential long-term health concerns with repeated use.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Oxybenzone

This ingredient may also be listed as:

oxybenzoneNCGC00016394-08NCGC00016394-05NCGC00016394-04NCGC00016394-03NCGC00016394-06NSC-7572601-(CYCLOPROPYLCARBONYL)-N-(4-ETHOXYPHENYL)-3,3-DIMETHYLINDOLINE-5-SULFONAMIDEMCULE-2222013605NCGC00016394-01NCGC00016394-02

Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.

Research Articles on Oxybenzone

Scientific research related to this ingredient:

These research articles provide scientific evidence about Oxybenzone safety and effects.

Common Questions About Oxybenzone

Safe for preschoolers to use Oxybenzone?

Oxybenzone is not recommended for 2-5 year old children due to potential safety risks.

What are the absorbed risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Can be absorbed through the skin and get into the bloodstream. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the immune system risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Could weaken or confuse immune system. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the eczema risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Linked to triggering or worsening eczema and similar skin conditions. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the hormones risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

May mess with natural hormone development in babies and children. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the builds up risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Builds up in the body over time with repeated use. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the organ risk risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

May harm organs like liver, kidneys, or lungs with repeated use. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the cancer risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the banned risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Banned or heavily restricted in one or more countries. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the environmental risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Possible negative effects on the environment Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the long-term risk risks of Oxybenzone for preschoolers?

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What products contain Oxybenzone?

Oxybenzone is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.

Is this suitable for preschoolers to using products with Oxybenzone?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 2-5 year old children. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

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