Oxybenzone

5+ year old children â€ĸ Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Oxybenzone?

âš ī¸
USE WITH CAUTION
Danger Score: 5 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Oxybenzone use with caution for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

â„šī¸General Overview

For children 5 years and up (school-aged kids and teens), oxybenzone carries some concerns. It can pass through the skin, has shown hormone-like effects in animal studies, and has caused allergic reactions in some people. The chance of harm is lower than for babies and toddlers, but safer options exist.

✅What to Do

When protecting your child (5+ years) from the sun, choose sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide when possible. If you must use a sunscreen that contains oxybenzone: apply a small amount only to exposed skin, avoid broken or irritated skin, do a small patch test first, avoid spray forms (to prevent breathing it in), follow label directions for reapplication, and use clothing and shade as primary protection when you can.

âš ī¸Warnings

Stop use and see a doctor if your child develops a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of allergy after using a product with oxybenzone. The reason for these warnings comes from animal studies showing weak hormone-like effects and human case reports showing photoallergic or allergic reactions; some regulatory reviews in various countries have placed limits on its use or concentration. Also be aware of environmental concerns (harm to coral) and avoid using oxybenzone-containing sunscreens in reef-protected waters.

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

Is this kid-friendly to use Oxybenzone?

Use caution with Oxybenzone for 5+ year old children. Some safety concerns have been identified.

What are the absorbed risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Can be absorbed through the skin and get into the bloodstream.

What are the immune system risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Could weaken or confuse immune system.

What are the eczema risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Linked to triggering or worsening eczema and similar skin conditions.

What are the hormones risks of Oxybenzone for children?

May mess with natural hormone development in babies and children.

What are the builds up risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Builds up in the body over time with repeated use.

What are the organ risk risks of Oxybenzone for children?

May harm organs like liver, kidneys, or lungs with repeated use.

What are the cancer risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure.

What are the banned risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Banned or heavily restricted in one or more countries.

What are the environmental risks of Oxybenzone for children?

Possible negative effects on the environment

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

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure.

What products contain Oxybenzone?

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

When can kids start using products with Oxybenzone?

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

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