Lip Balm | Sunscreen Lip Balm Stick while Breastfeeding

Our analysis of Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone which are active ingredients in Lip Balm | Sunscreen Lip Balm Stick indicates that Lip Balm | Sunscreen Lip Balm Stick is dangerous to use in breastfeeding. We strongly recommend you to go through detailed analysis of Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone as below and do not use Lip Balm | Sunscreen Lip Balm Stick during breastfeeding.

Octinoxate and Breastfeeding

Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate) has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk and is known for moderate risk of skin allergy. Some studies suggest that Octinoxate has estrogen like effects however less than 1% skin penetration has been found in human laboratory studies. As not much study has been done on effects of Octinoxate during breast feeding its recommended to use safe alternatives.

Octyl Methoxycinnamate (OMC) is a frequently used UV-filter in sunscreens and other cosmetics. Octinoxate can be systemically absorbed after skin application, being found in the deeper layers of the stratum corneum as well as urine, plasma, and breast milk. The mean maximum plasma concentration detected after application of 2mg/cm2 sunscreen was 7ng/mL in women and 16ng/mL in men. FDA study found blood levels 13 times above cutoff for systemic exposure.

Several studies indicated that OMC acts as an endocrine disruptor due to the ability to interfere with endocrine system at different levels. In humans OMC exposure has minor, but statistically significant effects on the levels of testosterone and estradiol. Moreover, some studies suggested that OMC can interact with the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis.

Moreover, a study of offspring of dams treated with OMC (500�1000 mg/kg/day) showed sex-dependent behavioral changes, namely decreased motor activity in females, but not in males, and improved spatial learning in males, suggesting that OMC can affect neuronal development, however the doses used in these experiments were extremely high, not relevant to possible human exposure.

Oxybenzone and Breastfeeding

Oxybenzone has been found in mother�s milk. And has relatively high 1% to 9% skin penetration in lab studies. Oxybenzone has relatively high rates of skin allergy, it has weak estrogen like effects, and its observed as moderate anti-androgen. Oxybenzone is associated with altered birth weight in human studies. It is not recommended to use Oxybenzone during breast feeding.

Avobenzone and Breastfeeding

Not much study has been done on effects of topical usage of Avobenzone during breast feeding however it is known to penetrate the skin in very limited quantity. Its not very likely to have adverse effects in breastfed infants.