Sunscreen Lawsuit

The mass tort lawyers at Mama Justice help victims in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee protect their legal rights after being diagnosed with cancer following the use of sunscreen.

For more than 70 years, people across the United States have been using sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful UV rays. These products are created to provide a layer of protection for users in order to keep them safe from sunburn, skin diseases, and various forms of cancer. Although these lotions and sprays have effectively helped tens of thousands of people block UV radiation that is commonly associated with skin damage, studies have found that certain types of sunscreen may be causing more harm than good.

In fact, a recently published study found that various brands of sunscreen contain the ingredient benzene. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen to humans, which means exposure can increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Furthermore, studies have concluded that dozens of the most popular sunscreen brands offered on the market in the United States contain this potentially harmful ingredient.

If you or a loved one used sunscreen and were subsequently diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to compensation to help cover the economic and non-economic damages you face moving forward. Contact our mass tort lawyers at Mama Justice to schedule a free case review with our law firm to discuss the legal options available for you.

Dangers of Using Sunscreen

People across the country use sunscreen while outdoors in order to protect their skin from damage caused by the sun. Although these products are generally safe and effective, there are several types of sunscreen that have been found to contain the harmful chemical benzene. This chemical has been classified as a carcinogen by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Reports from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly advise that people avoid the use of any product containing this harmful ingredient.

Although there have been no studies that have directly linked the use of sunscreens containing benzene to the development of cancer, it is well-known that constant exposure to benzene can be extremely harmful and can increase the risk of developing various types of cancer.

These findings suggest that people who use sunscreens with benzene may be increasing their own risk of developing myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, and forms of skin cancer. Studiers surrounding more than 300 brands of sunscreen found that nearly 80 products contained this harmful ingredient. Nearly 1/3 of products containing the chemical contained levels between 0.1 parts per million and 2 parts per million. More than fourteen sunscreen products contained levels over 2 parts per million. It should be noted that exposures to benzene levels as low as 0.1 parts per million can have life-threatening consequences for humans.

What Sunscreens Have Benzene?

Studies conducted by Valisure found that various types of sunscreen offered on the market across our country contain this harmful chemical. Some of the most common sunscreens found with this ingredient include:

  • CVS Health
  • Aveeno
  • Babyganics
  • Banana Boat
  • Up & Up
  • Walgreens
  • Sun Bum
  • Coppertone
  • LaRoche-Posay
  • Max Block
  • EltaMD
  • Neutrogena
  • Raw Elements
  • Everyday
  • Fruit of the Earth
  • Solimo
  • Equate
  • SunBurnt
  • TopCare
  • Goodsense

Studies have found that products offered by these companies can potentially cause harm to users. In addition, several types of Neutrogena sunscreen have also been found to have varying levels of benzene. After the results of these studies were made public, Johnson & Johnson, who owns the Neutrogena brand, issued a voluntary recall of the products offered on this line. Some of the targeted products include:

  • Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Water-Resistant Sunscreen Spray SPF 50, 70, and 100
  • Neutrogena Beach Defense Spray Body Sunscreen SPF 50
  • Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Body Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60+
  • Neutrogena Ultra Sheer:
    • Weightless Sunscreen Spray SPF 70 and SPF 100+
    • Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and 45
    • Dry-Touch Water Resistant Sunscreen SPF 70

If you have used any of the listed brands of sunscreen, and you were recently diagnosed with cancer, you must reach out to our mass tort lawyers as soon as possible.