Is Sunscreen Safe for Pregnant People?

Toxins in lunch meat, pesticides in baby clothes, nail salon fumes, carcinogens in skin care: Things you may not have even considered before you got pregnant suddenly become panic-inducing once you’ve got a little one on the way. One major concern for many pregnant women? Sunscreen.

While there is no direct evidence that regular sunscreens are unsafe for pregnant women, there is valid reason for the concern and many pregnant women are choosing to avoid them, says Steve Vasilev, MD, MBA, FACOG, FACS, FACN, ABIHN, ABOIM. Dr. Vasilev is a gynecologic oncologist and medical director and professor at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA.

“If you pick up most sunscreens, you will find a lot of chemical names, like avobenzone, octinoxate, and oxybenzone, which have been associated with toxic effects, including cancer, in the long run,” says Dr. Vasilev.

Keep reading this article on The Healthy.