Some of you might be aware of the controversy around Benzene (a known carcinogen) contamination in sunscreens. Testing was conducted by an online pharmacy/independent lab Valisure and it revealed that a number of sunscreens and after-sun care products contained Benzene, due to a contaminant in production (Benzene is not deliberately added to personal care products).
While this issue is concerning, we want to remind everyone that Benzene is found in a multitude of different things we may get exposed to on a daily basis like pollution, cigarette smoke, etc.
Having said that, we want to ensure our patients and friends that our SMD sunscreens/products are free of Benzene. Our products and raw materials are tested according to USP protocols and meet USP standards, so our suppliers test for Benzene as a residual solvent and certify that the material meets the USP standards. We periodically test the materials also as part of our supplier audits.
For reference, The United States Pharmacopeia, abbreviated USP, is a publication established in 1820 that contains legally recognized standards of identity, strength, quality, purity, packaging, and labeling for drug substances, dosage forms, and other therapeutic products, including nutritionals and dietary supplements.
And lastly, this incident is not a reason to stop wearing sunscreen, which is known to prevent skin cancer. Always #practicesafesun.
For further information on this matter and test results, take a look at the below:
https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/carcinogen-found-in-multiple-sunscreens
https://www.valisure.com/blog/valisure-news/valisure-detects-benzene-in-sunscreen/
https://www.cnet.com/health/lab-asks-fda-to-recall-40-batches-of-sunscreen-from-neutrogena-banana-boat-and-more/