Sunscreen during pregnancy

Zinc oxide is the preferred pregnancy-safe sunscreen active. It’s a mineral filter that sits on top of skin with minimal systemic absorption…

Use avobenzone cautiously in pregnancy. The FDA Maximal Usage Trial confirmed it reaches plasma concentrations above the safety threshold after a single…

Use octocrylene cautiously during pregnancy. It degrades to benzophenone (a potential carcinogen) over time — particularly in older or heat-exposed sunscreens. Systemic…

Avoid octinoxate during pregnancy. The most-used chemical UVB filter globally, with estrogenic endocrine-disruptor signals in animal and cell studies. Flagged alongside oxybenzone…

Avoid oxybenzone during pregnancy. Endocrine disruptor that crosses the placenta. Studies link higher maternal urinary oxybenzone to altered birth weight and Hirschsprung…

Avoid retinyl palmitate during pregnancy. It’s a vitamin A ester that converts to retinol (and then to retinoic acid) in the skin…

Titanium dioxide is one of the two preferred pregnancy-safe sunscreens (alongside zinc oxide). As a physical (mineral) UV filter, it sits on…