Sunscreen Ingredient to Avoid When Pregnant: Retinyl Palmitate

It’s that time of year again, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, more hours of daylight and more sunshine!

Everyone knows sunscreen is important, and choosing the most natural products are best for your skin and the environment. So what are some ingredients you should avoid?

According to new sunscreen ratings from Consumer Reports, pregnant women might want to choose a sunscreen that doesn’t contain retinyl palmitate, an ingredient that could possibly increase the risk of birth defects.

Retinyl palmitate, also known as vitamin A palmitate and retinol hexadecanoate, is a topical form of vitamin A that the skin converts to retinoids. And those compounds, which are also found in certain acne medications, have been linked to an increased risk of birth defects.

For the full article, go to: http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2011/05/new-advice-for-pregnant-women-when-choosing-sunscreens.html

Read more: Health, Obstetrics, Pregnancy

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lydia P.

7:09AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

It's not good for you pregnant or not. These ingredients are quite dangerous and they've all been tested on bunnies. Just wear enough clothes and a wide-brimmed hat.

send a green star

J.L. A.

8:12AM PST on Feb 22, 2012

thanks

KS G.

4:14AM PST on Feb 22, 2012

Thanks for the article.

jane r.

8:36AM PDT on Jul 29, 2011

Paula W.

11:33AM PDT on Jun 27, 2011

I use a sunscreen by Aubrey Organics called "Natural Sun" that I got at my local health food store.

11:25AM PDT on Jun 27, 2011

Annemarie W.

5:35PM PDT on Jun 6, 2011

Santanita G.

7:11PM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

I would like to know how to find sunscreen with out toxins. I have been hunting for awhile now, and they all are the same. I must not be looking in the right places. Can some one give me an idea of what I am looking for?

Marcia M.

8:12AM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

Thanks

Tamara H.

10:14PM PDT on May 29, 2011

Thanks for the information.