Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) on your skin: a safety profile
Moderate riskOxybenzone demonstrates unusually high dermal absorption compared to most sunscreen UV filters — approximately 1–4% of applied dose penetrates into systemic circulation, producing plasma concentrations in the nanograms-per-mL range with full-body application. This high absorption is the basis for FDA's not-GRASE determination and requirement for additional safety data. Repeated daily application (as recommended for regular sun protection) results in measurable bioaccumulation in plasma over days to weeks. Oxybenzone is also detected in breast milk following dermal application, raising the question of infant oxybenzone exposure from breastfeeding mothers using oxybenzone-containing sunscreens. The endocrine-active properties of oxybenzone are relevant to the dermal absorption context: compounds absorbed into systemic circulation at bioactive concentrations have the potential to interact with hormonal systems. While the absolute endocrine risk at measured plasma concentrations from typical sunscreen use has not been established in humans, the combination of high dermal absorption, systemic distribution, endocrine activity in vitro, and reproductive system effects in animals at higher doses justifies the FDA's precautionary review posture.
What is oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)?
The IUPAC name is (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone.
Also known as: (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone, oxybenzone, 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYBENZOPHENONE, Benzophenone-3.
- IUPAC name
- (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone
- CAS number
- 131-57-7
- Molecular formula
- C14H12O3
- Molecular weight
- 228.24 g/mol
- SMILES
- COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2)O
- PubChem CID
- 4632
Risk for people
Moderate riskOxybenzone demonstrates unusually high dermal absorption compared to most sunscreen UV filters — approximately 1–4% of applied dose penetrates into systemic circulation, producing plasma concentrations in the nanograms-per-mL range with full-body application. This high absorption is the basis for FDA's not-GRASE determination and requirement for additional safety data. Repeated daily application (as recommended for regular sun protection) results in measurable bioaccumulation in plasma over days to weeks. Oxybenzone is also detected in breast milk following dermal application, raising the question of infant oxybenzone exposure from breastfeeding mothers using oxybenzone-containing sunscreens. The endocrine-active properties of oxybenzone are relevant to the dermal absorption context: compounds absorbed into systemic circulation at bioactive concentrations have the potential to interact with hormonal systems. While the absolute endocrine risk at measured plasma concentrations from typical sunscreen use has not been established in humans, the combination of high dermal absorption, systemic distribution, endocrine activity in vitro, and reproductive system effects in animals at higher doses justifies the FDA's precautionary review posture.
Regulatory consensus
8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 1 positive / 5 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 1 positive / 5 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Personal Care — sunscreen, moisturizer with SPF, foundation, lip balm
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3):
-
Fragrance-free formulations
Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented productsRelative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
-
Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizersRelative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
Is oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) safe for you?
Oxybenzone demonstrates unusually high dermal absorption compared to most sunscreen UV filters — approximately 1–4% of applied dose penetrates into systemic circulation, producing plasma concentrations in the nanograms-per-mL range with full-body application. This high absorption is the basis for FDA's not-GRASE determination and requirement for additional safety data. Repeated daily application (as recommended for regular sun protection) results in measurable bioaccumulation in plasma over days to weeks. Oxybenzone is also detected in breast milk following dermal application, raising the question of infant oxybenzone exposure from breastfeeding mothers using oxybenzone-containing sunscreens. The endocrine-active properties of oxybenzone are relevant to the dermal absorption context: compounds absorbed into systemic circulation at bioactive concentrations have the potential to interact with hormonal systems. While the absolute endocrine risk at measured plasma concentrations from typical sunscreen use has not been established in humans, the combination of high dermal absorption, systemic distribution, endocrine activity in vitro, and reproductive system effects in animals at higher doses justifies the FDA's precautionary review posture.
What products contain oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)?
Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); sunscreen (Personal care).
Why do regulators disagree about oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)?
Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) has been classified by 8 agencies including EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) in the body app
Look up products containing oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in body View raw API dataSources (2)
- US FDA: Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use — Proposed Rule and GRASE Determinations for Oxybenzone and Other UV Filters (2019) — regulatory
- Environmental Working Group (EWG): Sunscreen Guide — Oxybenzone Absorption, Endocrine Activity, and Aquatic Toxicity Review (2021) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →