---

Titanium dioxide

You may have heard of titanium dioxide but may not have been aware of exactly what it is. As its name suggests it is an oxide of titanium and is used in a variety of products, including many sunscreens. You can find this chemical in paints, paper, food (food coloring), inks, and plastics, among other things. There has been debate for the past few years as to whether its presence in sunscreen and sunblock is harmful to humans or not.

Initially, it was used in sunscreen and especially sunblock because of its ability to effectively reflect UV rays. However, over time, studies have shown that its presence in sun care products may be a potentially dangerous carcinogenic to humans. When a substance or chemical is considered carcinogenic, that means that its presence in the human body could cause a mutation or malfunction of the body's cells. When this happens, that cell becomes cancerous and eventually has the ability to spread to the body's other tissues and organs. However, it has been found to be carcinogenic in some of the products it is found in and not others. This means that this chemical is not always carcinogenic in all forms. There continues to be heavy debate about its use in sun care products but no official ruling against its use in the sun care industry has been announced so despite these findings, there are still plenty of sun care products that actively use this chemical in its formula. Those against the use of titanium dioxide in sunscreen and sunblock are also quick to point out that this chemical is even present in products that claim to be “natural” or “organic.” For this reason, it is important to read the labels of whatever sun care product you choose to purchase for yourself or your family.

Because the Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate the use of such products, this means that it is up to each person to decide whether or not to use such items. If you do not want to take the risk of using a product that contains titanium dioxide, then you should look for sun care products that are free of it and contain zinc oxide which is an effective and healthful alternative. Additionally, you can also find lists of other ingredients that you may want to avoid in your personal care products.