Summary of Use during Lactation

Sunscreen ingredients vary considerably from product to product and country to country. It is best to look for the individual sunscreen chemical(s) in a specific product than to rely on brand names. Organic chemical sunscreens are absorbed systemically when applied to human skin. Most organic chemical sunscreens are detectable in breastmilk, but the amounts that an infant would ingest are usually lower than current limits of concern.[1-5] Products containing octinoxate, enzacamene, and especially oxybenzone should probably be avoided during breastfeeding because of their possible endocrine-disrupting effects.[5,6] Inorganic mineral sunscreens containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide may be better alternatives for nursing mothers.[6] Avoiding sun exposure during the mid-day peak ultraviolet (UV) hours, sitting in shaded areas such as under umbrellas, and wearing sun-protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and long pants can reduce the need for chemical sunscreens.

Drug Levels

Studies of sunscreens in human milk have use donated milk samples to test sunscreen detection capabilities of chemistry laboratory instruments. These studies were not designed to determine maternal sunscreen exposure or “dose” prior to milk collection and can therefore not answer questions regarding how much of a given sunscreen applied over a given surface area of skin on a lactating mother will be present in her milk.[1-4]

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1.

Rodríguez-Gómez R, Zafra-Gómez A, Dorival-García N, et al. Determination of benzophenone-UV filters in human milk samples using ultrasound-assisted extraction and clean-up with dispersive sorbents followed by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. Talanta 2015;134:657-64 [PubMed: 25618719]

2.

Molins-Delgado D, Olmo-Campos MDM, Valeta-Juan G, et al. Determination of UV filters in human breast milk using turbulent flow chromatography and babies' daily intake estimation. Environ Res 2017;161:532-9 [PubMed: 29232646]

3.

Liu Y, Gao L, Qiao L, et al. Concentrations, compound profiles, and possible sources of organic UV filters in human milk in China. Environ Sci Technol 2022;56:15930-40 [PubMed: 36260437]

4.

Alcaraz MR, Espinosa-Mansilla A, Durán-Merás I, et al. An optimized methodology for the determination of multiclass organic ultraviolet sunscreens and metabolites in human milk through chromatographic and chemometric resolution. Talanta 2024;270:125560 [PubMed: 38128275]

5.

Ruszkiewicz JA, Pinkas A, Ferrer B, et al. Neurotoxic effect of active ingredients in sunscreen products, a contemporary review. Toxicol Rep 2017;4:245-59 [PMC free article: PMC5615097] [PubMed: 28959646]

6.

Sunscreens. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2025;67:97-102 [PubMed: 40512609]

Substance Name

Sunscreens

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Sunscreening Agents