Why is Vitamin A in sunscreen now a concern?

For much of the country, summer is here or quickly approaching. It is now time to really think about the best—most effective and safest—sunscreen products for our children.

Sunscreen has been a very hot topic during the past week with Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) release of its 2010 Sunscreen Guide. The report raises many important points about sun protection (I recommend that everyone checks it out), but I find the news about Vitamin A especially interesting.

Why Is Vitamin A Used?
Vitamin A is used in sunscreen as an antioxidant to slow the skin’s aging process. Although it is a product geared toward adults, it is commonly found in many baby and children’s sunscreens.

FDA Data
EWG cites a recent study from FDA indicating that retinyl palmitate—a form of Vitamin A—can speed up the development of skin tumors and lesions when it is applied to skin exposed to sunlight. This indicates that vitamin A may be photocarcinogenic, meaning that in the presence of the sun's ultraviolet rays, both the chemical and skin undergo complex biochemical changes resulting in cancer. With 41 percent of sunscreens on the market containing retinyl palmitate, this news is cause for concern.

In FDA’s study, tumors and lesions developed up to 21 percent faster in lab animals coated in cream containing Vitamin A than in control animals treated with a vitamin-free cream. Both groups were exposed to the same amount of Florida sunshine each day for up to a year.

The data are preliminary, and FDA is scheduled to publish a more in-depth evaluation with conclusions in October 2010. If the data hold up in the final report, it is quite possible that it will be determined that some sunscreens may actually increase the risk of skin cancer. Talk about irony.

What Can Parents Do?

• Choose sunscreens that do not contain Vitamin A. The chemicals to avoid include retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinyl acetate, and other retinyls.
• Visit EWG’s Sunscreen Guide to view the list of the best sunscreens and to search for specific sunscreen products in the database to determine how they are ranked.
• Stay on top of new developments from FDA and others regarding Vitamin A in sunscreens.