This is an urgent podcast episode! Last week, an independent lab, Valisure Labs, announced it discovered potentially harmful levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, in several popular sunscreen products. Now, Valisure Labs is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall the affected batches. In a report released May 24, they analyzed 294 batches of sunscreen and after-sun products from 69 brands. Benzene was detected in 78 (over a quarter) of those batches—and 14 of them contained more than the FDA’s limit of 2 parts per million (ppm). Neutrogena, Sun Bum, CVS Health, and Fruit of the Earth were among the brands with the highest levels of the carcinogen, per the lab’s results.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

Dr. Erum Ilyas is here to answer any/all questions for redheads + everyone else listening! Her focus is on adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and skin cancer prevention and treatment. She has practiced dermatology in the Philadelphia/Boston areas for over 15 years and has served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine and the System Chief for Dermatology of the Main Line Health Hospital Systems. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, and Philadelphia Dermatological Society. Dr. Ilyas has served with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgeons as a State Advocacy Leader. She has visited Capitol Hill with the AAD to advocate for restrictions on tanning bed usage for pediatric patients, increased research funding for rare diseases and increased access to pharmaceuticals at affordable prices for patients. She recently worked with local state leaders to successfully push for legislation permitting students in the state of Pennsylvania to apply sunscreen in school without a doctor’s note.

Dr. Ilyas is the founder of AmberNoon, a contemporary UPF clothing line that protects skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. She designs a diffusion line for QVC, AmberNoon II by Dr Erum Ilyas, for which she also serves as the spokesperson. Dr. Ilyas lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three teenage children.

She answers the following important questions:

Valisure, a lab and online pharmacy that regularly tests consumer products, explains it analyzed 294 batches of sunscreen and after-sun products from 69 brands. Benzene was detected in 78 (over a quarter) of those batches—and 14 of them contained more than the FDA’s limit of 2 parts per million (ppm). What does the report mean exactly? Should we be worried?

As a skincare professional yourself who has really dedicated her life to sun protection, did this news surprise you?

What are your top 1 or 2 recommended sunscreens?

So many people do not want to talk about skin cancer. But, it’s real and it’s serious. Redheads are said to have melanoma more than any hair color because of the MC1R gene -- even without exposure to the sun. What do you know about these facts?

So many of us are now worried about sunscreen being harmful too. But, wearing sunscreen is always essential. What tips do you have for redheads who are now scared to wear sunscreen?

We love UPF clothing! Can you tell us about your contemporary clothing line that protects skin from harmful rays, AmberNoon?

Articles mentioned in podcast:

Post about contaminated sunscreen: https://howtobearedhead.com/what-to-know-popular-sunscreens-contaminated-with-carcinogen-2/

Why higher SPFs aren't better: https://howtobearedhead.com/redhead-sunscreen-why-highr-spf-is-not-always-better/

Full podcast notes: https://howtobearedhead.com/benzene-was-found-in-popular-sunscreens-what-now/