Banana Boat Remembered Sunscreen Spray Due to Benzene - Here's What You Need to Know

Banana Boat Remembered Sunscreen Spray Due to Benzene - Here's What You Need to Know

Sunscreen brand Banana Boat issued a nationwide recall of its Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 last week. An internal review found traces of benzene in some samples from three batches of the product, according to a July 29 company release. During an internal review, the company found "unexpected concentrations of benzene" in the propellant that expels the sunscreen from the aerosol can, the announcement said.

Scalp Sunscreen is a sun protection step you don't want to skip

ICYDK, benzene is a chemical that is a known carcinogen that has been linked to serious illnesses, including cancer, in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Small amounts of benzene are found in outdoor air due to tobacco smoke, gas stations, vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions, and the ability of benzene to affect a person's health depends on the amount and duration of exposure (i.e., higher exposure corresponds to higher risk). for side effects), the CDC adds. Although benzene is not an ingredient in Banana Boat products, it may have contaminated the sunscreen during the production process.

If benzene sounds familiar, it might be because this isn't the first time sunscreen brands have recalled products due to the carcinogen. Last summer, an online pharmacy called Valisure tested 294 sunscreens and sun aftercare products and found that 78 of them contained benzene. The report included popular brands such as Neutrogena, Aveeno, Sun Bum and Banana Boat. Around the same time, Johnson & Johnson recalled five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen sprays because benzene was detected in samples.

While sunscreen is an important and effective tool for preventing sun damage and skin cancer, reports of sunscreens containing potentially dangerous carcinogens have led to some consumer distrust of the product. "There is confusion and misinformation about sunscreen, which has unfortunately led to growing skepticism and a general fear factor that sunscreen is dangerous when in reality it is more dangerous not to use it," Ava Shamban, MD, a Los Angeles dermatologist, previously told Shape. You may have even seen videos on TikTok of people making their own DIY sunscreen. Spoiler alert: This is not a good idea. (Psst: Stop believing SPF and sunscreen myths, stat)

With its latest recall, Banana Boat has notified retailers to remove recalled products from store shelves and is offering refunds to consumers who purchased the sunscreen. You can find out whether a can of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 was part of the recall by looking at the batch code on the bottom of the can. If you have a can with a number that matches one of the three lots listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, stop using it and throw it in the trash immediately.

Does sunscreen expire?

While it may be scary to find a half-used recalled can in your bathroom cabinet, there's no reason to panic. “According to an independent health assessment using established exposure modeling guidelines, daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products is not expected to cause adverse health consequences,” the FDA reports. So far, no one has reported any side effects from using the product.

Although it is necessary to follow recall guidelines, wearing SPF daily helps prevent skin cancer and the effects of aging. Therefore, it is important that you do not let news of recalls deter you from using sunscreen in general. (Next: The Best Sunscreens Tested and Approved by Shape Editors)