Is Sunscreens safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Sunscreens. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Sunscreen ingredients vary considerably from product to product and country to country. It is best to look for the individual sunscreen chemical(s) in a specific product than to rely on brand names. Organic chemical sunscreens are absorbed systemically when applied to human skin. Most organic chemical sunscreens are detectable in breastmilk, but the amounts that an infant would ingest are usually lower than current limits of concern.[1-5] Products containing octinoxate, enzacamene, and especially oxybenzone should probably be avoided during breastfeeding because of their possible endocrine-disrupting effects.[5,6] Inorganic mineral sunscreens containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide may be better alternatives for nursing mothers.[6] Avoiding sun exposure during the mid-day peak ultraviolet (UV) hours, sitting in shaded areas such as under umbrellas, and wearing sun-protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and long pants can reduce the need for chemical sunscreens.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Studies of sunscreens in human milk have use donated milk samples to test sunscreen detection capabilities of chemistry laboratory instruments. These studies were not designed to determine maternal sunscreen exposure or “dose” prior to milk collection and can therefore not answer questions regarding how much of a given sunscreen applied over a given surface area of skin on a lactating mother will be present in her milk.[1-4]
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Sunscreens is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Sunscreens” (sunscreens). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.