Is sunscreen bad for you? What FDA and NCI say

Sunscreen safety became a common worry after 2019, when FDA scientists reported that some sunscreen ingredients reach the bloodstream. Since then, headlines have asked whether sunscreen causes cancer, and many people have wondered whether they should stop using it. This guide sets out what the FDA, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) say, including the ingredient changes the FDA made in 2026. It is part of Skinli's guide on how to choose a sunscreen for your face.

Sunscreen is regulated as a drug

In the United States, sunscreen is regulated as a drug. The FDA says this means sunscreens "must satisfy the safety and efficacy standards for nonprescription drug products." The FDA decides which active ingredients are allowed, at what strength, and what the label must say.

That review is ongoing. In 2019 and again in 2021, the FDA proposed updating its list of sunscreen ingredients. It has since acted on parts of that proposal.

What the FDA changed in 2026

A new ingredient was added. On 9 June 2026, the FDA announced it had added bemotrizinol to the list of permitted sunscreen ingredients. It is the first new active ingredient added since the late 1990s. The FDA says bemotrizinol protects against both kinds of ultraviolet light "and has low levels of absorption through the skin into the body," and considers it safe and effective for adults and children 6 months and older.

Two old ingredients were removed. On 10 September 2026, the FDA issued an order removing PABA (aminobenzoic acid) and trolamine salicylate. The FDA says its review "shows that the risks associated with use of these active ingredients in sunscreen drug products outweigh their benefits." It also says, "Consumers do not need to take any action," because it "is not aware of any sunscreen drug products currently sold in the U.S. that contain PABA or trolamine salicylate."

Two ingredients have the strongest safety finding. The FDA says it has found enough safety data on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to propose that sunscreens with up to 25 percent of these ingredients are generally recognized as safe and effective.

Twelve ingredients need more data. For avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, ensulizole and five less common ingredients, the FDA asked makers for more safety studies. The FDA is clear about what that means. Its proposal "does not represent a conclusion by the FDA that the sunscreen active ingredients proposed as having insufficient data are unsafe for use in sunscreens." The AAD adds that the FDA "does not ask the public to stop using sunscreens that contain any of these ingredients."

Sunscreen ingredients in the blood

The FDA's questions came partly from its own research. FDA scientists ran two trials, published in JAMA.

• 2019: 24 healthy volunteers applied sunscreen to 75 percent of their body, four times a day for four days. Avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and ecamsule all reached levels in the blood above the point at which the FDA asks for extra safety studies.
• 2020: 48 volunteers tested four sunscreens. All six ingredients tested (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate) passed that point on the first day, after a single application.

Both trials used far more sunscreen, on far more skin, than a normal day of face sunscreen. And both ended with the same line: the results "do not indicate that individuals should refrain from the use of sunscreen."

The AAD explains the reasoning: "Just because an ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream does not mean that it is harmful or unsafe." The FDA says it "has requested data from industry to confirm the safety of sunscreen active ingredients," which is the next step.

Does sunscreen cause cancer?

None of the FDA, NCI or AAD pages Skinli read say that sunscreen causes cancer. The AAD says the science "doesn't show that any sunscreen ingredients now available in the U.S. are harmful to human health."

The NCI's summary on skin cancer prevention lists the known harms of sunscreen: "The harms of using sunscreen are likely to be small and include allergic reactions to skin creams and lower levels of vitamin D made in the skin because of less sun exposure." It adds one more risk, which comes from how people behave: people who use sunscreen "may spend too much time in the sun and be exposed to harmful UV radiation."

There is one separate issue. The FDA says some spray sunscreens were recalled because of benzene contamination. Benzene is a contaminant, a chemical that was never meant to be in the product. The FDA recommends not using recalled sunscreens and keeps a public recall list. It still says consumers "should continue to use sunscreen, along with other sun protection measures."

Does sunscreen prevent cancer?

This is where the evidence needs careful reading.

The FDA allows broad-spectrum sunscreens of SPF 15 or higher to say that, used as directed with other sun protection, they decrease "the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun." The AAD says sunscreen use "can help prevent skin cancer."

The NCI is more cautious. Its patient summary says: "It is not known if nonmelanoma skin cancer risk is decreased by staying out of the sun, using sunscreens, or wearing protective clothing when outdoors. This is because not enough studies have been done to prove this." It also says, "It has not been proven that using sunscreen to prevent sunburn can protect against melanoma." What the NCI does say is proven: sunscreen prevents sunburn and actinic keratoses, rough patches of skin that may turn into squamous cell carcinoma.

The best-known trial comes from Nambour, Australia. In 1992, 1,621 adults were randomly assigned to use sunscreen daily or when they chose. Ten years after the trial ended, the daily group had 11 new melanomas and the other group had 22. The result fell just short of the usual test for statistical proof (P = .051), and the authors concluded that "melanoma may be preventable by regular sunscreen use in adults." The same trial found 24 percent less skin aging in the daily group.

So the fair summary is: sunscreen clearly prevents sunburn, it helps against early skin aging, and it is one part of a skin cancer plan that also includes shade and clothing. The NCI still recommends "using sunscreen that protects against UV radiation."

Rashes and allergies

The one harm that shows up often is skin irritation. Every sunscreen label in the U.S. must say "Stop use and ask a doctor if rash occurs." In the 2020 FDA trial, rash was the most common side effect, in 14 of 48 people using large amounts.

If a sunscreen stings or gives you a rash, stop it and try a different formula. The AAD recommends mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) for sensitive skin. Our guide to mineral vs chemical sunscreen compares the two, and how to patch test a new skincare product shows how to try one on a small area first.

Spray sunscreens need extra care

Sprays carry two risks of their own. The FDA says many spray sunscreens contain alcohol, which is flammable, and that people have been burned after wearing spray sunscreen near open flames. Flammable sprays must carry a warning. Keep them away from grills, candles and cigarettes. The AAD adds three tips: do not spray near the face or mouth, do not spray into the wind, and avoid breathing it in. The FDA says never to spray sunscreen directly on the face. Spray it into your hands first, or use a lotion for the face.

Vitamin D

The NCI lists less vitamin D as a possible harm of sunscreen. The AAD recommends getting vitamin D from food and fortified drinks instead of from the sun. Our guide on whether sunscreen blocks vitamin D covers the research.

What the risk of skipping sunscreen looks like

The FDA says ultraviolet light can cause "sunburn, early skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles, or 'leathery skin'), eye damage, and skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S." The AAD estimates that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

If you are worried about an ingredient, you have simple options: choose a mineral sunscreen, cover more skin with clothing and a hat, and seek shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you are pregnant, the FDA says to ask your health care professional about sunscreen. See a doctor for any spot that is new, changing, bleeding or not healing.