Systemic Absorption of Sunscreen Ingredients and Their Implications on Human Health
Work Type
Poster
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation contributes to immunosuppression, photoaging, and skin cancer and sunscreens are widely used to reduce UV related skin damage.
Growing evidence suggests that certain active ingredients can be absorbed through the skin and enter the systemic circulation.
Active ingredients in sunscreen are the factors directly responsible for UV protection whereas inactive ingredients do not directly provide UV protection but serve roles in the formulation of the sunscreen product.
Globally the most widely used chemical agents are octinoxate and oxybenzone and the most widely used physical agents are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
In 2019 the FDA updated the sunscreen safety criteria for products to qualify as Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE). Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are recognized as GRASE.
Ingredients such as cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, padimate O, sulisobenzone, oxybenzone, and avobenzone were not recognized as GRASE because of inadequate data to support a safety finding.
Chemical sunscreen ingredients have raised concerns due to their ability to exceed the FDA threshold of 0.5 ng/mL in plasma following topical application. This threshold approximates the cancer risk associated with plasma concentrations of active ingredients.
The purpose of this project is to examine the extent to which active sunscreen ingredients are absorbed systemically and what evidence links that absorption to adverse health outcomes in humans. This review also explores whether natural sunscreen additives and proper UV protection education can help reduce the adverse health risks and improve patient safety.
This topic is important because sunscreen is widely recommended for preventing skin cancer, and understanding both its benefits and potential risks helps healthcare providers better educate patients and support safer sun protection practices.
Publication Date
4-28-2026
Citation Information
Worthington, Natalie, "Systemic Absorption of Sunscreen Ingredients and Their Implications on Human Health" (2026). Student Works Physician Assistant. 30.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/stu_pa/30
