For Your Own Safety Avoid Mixing These Two Products

June

For Your Own Safety Avoid Mixing These Two Products

Jacklyn’s just concerned: I was told that products that are combination sunscreens and insect repellents may not be safe. Is this true? The Left Brain cautiously responds:

Yes, Jacklyn, there is reason for concern over sunscreen/repellents. According to an Associated Press report, there have been a few small scale studies (done on animals and human skin cells, by the way) that indicate mixing sunscreen actives with DEET (the insect repellent active ingredient) might not only increase skin penetration of DEET but also reduce efficacy of the sunscreen.

The FDA put out a notice asking for comments to determine if this is a problem or not. And the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association says that the small studies that showed the problem are flawed. So what happens next? More research.

Certainly this is an important issue that merits further research, but there may be a more immediate reason for concern. Think about how these products are designed to be used: Sunscreens need to be repeatedly applied, in fairly large quantities, to keep your skin covered. But insect repellents are only intended to be applied occasionally (to prevent over exposure.)

So while a combination sunscreen/insect repellant sounds like a great idea, they kind of cancel each other out in a weird way – if you apply enough product to give good sun protection then you might be overdosing on the insect repellent. But if you lower the dose of the repellant, you don’t get enough sunscreen.

Thank you very much, but I’ll just carry two separate products in my beach bag.

10 Responses to “For Your Own Safety Avoid Mixing These Two Products”

Elaine Says:

Wouldn’t the problem still exist if you apply two separate products at the same time or even if you apply them at different times? You’re still mixing the active ingredients of both products.
thebeautybrains Says:

Elaine: Another study cited in the article did raise the exact same concern. Again, more studies are needed!
Anne Says:

Elaine: Yes, you’d still be mixing the active ingredients of both products, but in a much lower concentration. Think about it: You apply sunscreen half an hour before going outside in order for your skin to absorb the active ingredients. Then, after half an hour (or more) you apply the insect repellent. If the sunscreen’s ingredients are absorbed into your skin and the repellent’s ingredients are sitting on top, your skin can only absorb so much at a time.

Personally, I never liked the idea of the combo products, especially for children, so I’ve always used them separately.
thebeautybrains Says:

Elaine, if you apply a sunscreen lotion it will contain an occlusive agent like petrolatum, mineral oil or some other oily material. This should provide an extra barrier that will inhibit penetration of the DEET. When delivered from the same product, the DEET can get through the barrier more easily and thus has more of a chance to get into your skin. But as the Right Brain said, more studies are needed.
Is Multi-purpose Always Better? | Skinplistic Says:

[...] Is it possible that mixing certain ingredients may actually be more harmful than helpful? A Beauty Brains reader recently asked specifically about the combination of sunscreen and insect repellent products [...]
Laurie Says:

I’d be interested if this kind of concern would also be the case for other repellent products that don’t contain DEET – like Avon’s Expedition and Bug Guard products. Yes, DEET is effective, but potentially dangerous, even without sunscreen. I’ll avoid that if I can find something just as effective.
thebeautybrains Says:

Laurie,

Unfortunately, DEET is still the most effective bug repellent. There are new ones but none work as well as DEET on most people.
Highlight HEALTH Links - July 10th, 2007 » Highlight HEALTH Says:

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Health Highlights - July 10th, 2007 | Highlight HEALTH Says:

[...] For Your Own Safety Avoid Mixing These Two Products » The Beauty Brains [...]
Skin Access » Sun Care » Is Multi-purpose Always Better? Says:

[...] Is it possible that mixing certain ingredients may actually be more harmful than helpful? A Beauty Brains reader recently asked specifically about the combination of sunscreen and insect repellent products [...]