Is Sunscreen Over in Hawaii?

Dermatologists, nurses, and government agencies have always been very eager to remind us to slather on sunscreen before enjoying a sunny day outdoors. Their efforts have been highly successful, and since 1978, when the Food and Drug Administration gave sunscreen the thumbs up, sunscreen has become one of the fastest growing skin care products. However, this long-standing, nation-wide initiative to douse our skin in sunscreen might be coming to a screeching halt. Earlier this month, Hawaii passed a bill prohibiting the sale of sunscreen that contains oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals found in over 3,500 types of sunscreen products, including Banana Boat and Coppertone.

In recent years, scientists have been calling oxybenzone and octinoxate “endocrine disruptors.” A series of studies have linked these chemicals to severe forms of breast cancer, polluted breast milk, female uterine conditions, newborn deformities, damaged DNA, and lowered testosterone. However, these side effects are just the tip of the iceberg, and lawmakers are calling the ban on account of sunscreen’s dangerous effects on ocean life. According to the bill, which is actually called the Sunscreen Pollution Ban, “Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms.”

The law is set to go into effect on January 1, 2019. However, according to NPR, many local businesses and organizations have already instated their own bans. In lieu of the regulation, local, all-natural sunscreens with non-nanotized zinc oxide have become especially popular.