Don’t take our word for it. Here’s every fact on this site, with its evidence grade, its caveats, and a link to the source, so you can check us.
We start you on the strong ones: findings that have been replicated or come from one large, well-controlled study. Moderate and weak facts are here too, labeled for what they are. Use “Link to this fact” to share a single card.
Skin allergy / Other evidence
FDA says oxybenzone is a contact allergen for people with pre-existing skin conditions and a photoallergen for people with photosensitivity, and it would consider requiring allergy labeling if the missing data supported GRASE.
Moderate evidence.
Caveats
The patch-test rate is low overall and reflects a general allergy-clinic population; FDA calls the photoallergen evidence "clear" for photosensitive people only. Labeling is a possibility under the proposal, not a requirement.
Source: FDA proposed order OTC000008 (2021) Link to this fact
Skin allergy / Other evidence
A pooled analysis of 64 unpublished studies commissioned by a sunscreen maker found that about 1 in 400 healthy adults (48 of 19,570) had any possible irritation or allergic reaction to oxybenzone sunscreens under exaggerated patch-test conditions, and oxybenzone itself was confirmed as the cause in only 8 people.
Moderate evidence.
Caveats
Funded and written by the manufacturer's current and former employees (Schering-Plow HealthCare); data unpublished and unreviewed at study level; healthy volunteers only; some flagged subjects were never resolved. Industry position, not an independent incidence estimate.
Source: Agin 2008 (oxybenzone HRIPT), Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine Industry-funded Link to this fact
Information, not medical advice. See also: myths we won’t tell you.