You may have come across an Instagram reel claiming that sunscreens are harmful and could even cause cancer. The video has gone viral, racking up over 25 million views and more than 330,000 likes. In it, the speaker references a 2019 FDA study, warning that sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone can enter the bloodstream after just one use and exceed safety thresholds — potentially leading to skin cancer.

Here’s what the speaker says:

 “Don’t use sunscreens… In May 2019, the FDA released a report saying that sunscreen chemicals penetrate the bloodstream after just one day of use. Oxybenzone exceeded safety levels in just two hours,” he claims.
 He also says these chemicals mess with your body’s metabolic system, stress your liver and kidneys, and could make you sick. He goes on to suggest a link between rising sunscreen use and an increase in melanoma — the most dangerous form of skin cancer — noting that sunscreen sales have gone up 38 times in the last 30 years, while melanoma cases have doubled since 1982.

So, what’s the truth? Let’s break it down:

Claim 1: The FDA report shows sunscreen chemicals enter the bloodstream after one use, so we should stop using them.

Fact: This is partially true, but also misleading.

Yes, in May 2019, the FDA published a small pilot study that found certain sunscreen ingredients — like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule — can enter the bloodstream after a single application. In the study, 24 participants applied sunscreen over 75% of their bodies four times a day for four days. The results showed that oxybenzone levels in the blood exceeded FDA thresholds within just two hours.

But here’s the important part: the study didn’t say these chemicals are harmful.
 Instead, the FDA and dermatology experts, like those from the American Academy of Dermatology, emphasize that absorption doesn’t automatically mean danger. The purpose of the study was to encourage further research, not to declare sunscreen unsafe. In fact, both the study’s authors and the FDA continue to recommend using sunscreen to protect against sun damage and skin cancer.

Claim 2: Sunscreen chemicals harm the liver and kidneys and could cause cancer.

Fact: There’s no conclusive evidence to support this claim.

It’s true the study found that several sunscreen chemicals — including oxybenzone, octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate — were detected in the bloodstream at levels higher than the FDA’s safety threshold of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter. Some reports even state that these chemicals leached into the blood at levels up to 360 times higher than allowed.

That sounds alarming, but again — presence in the blood doesn’t mean harm.
 The FDA called for more safety testing from manufacturers to better understand how these chemicals affect the body. But as of now, there's no solid scientific evidence linking sunscreen use to liver or kidney damage or to cancer.

Bottom Line:

Yes, sunscreen ingredients can be absorbed into the bloodstream. But no, that doesn’t mean they’re harmful — at least not according to current research. The FDA hasn’t said sunscreen is unsafe. In fact, it and other health experts still recommend using sunscreen daily to protect against UV damage and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Always opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and if you’re still concerned, you can choose mineral-based sunscreens (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide), which sit on the skin’s surface rather than being absorbed.

Don't let fear-mongering on social media keep you from protecting your skin. Stay sun-safe — smartly.

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