Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
Explained
Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA (aka Padimate O) protects skin from UVB (~290-315 nm) rays. It is an oil-soluble organic UV filter and the most potent FDA-approved UVB absorber.
This ingredient is actually derived from the original sunscreen ingredient PABA.
Concentration regulations cap it at 8% in the US, EU, and Canada, but it's usually used around 1.25% (~0.5-2% range).
Safety-wise, the headlines can sound scarier than the evidence.
In vitro studies have shown it can generate free radicals and cause DNA damage when illuminated, and it binds weakly to estrogen receptors in a test tube. But this estrogenic activity is about a million times weaker than the body's own estradiol and hasn't been confirmed in living organisms.
Even the EU's scientific committee concluded the UV filters permitted in sunscreens have no estrogenic effects relevant to human health.
A 2021 South Korean risk assessment ran the numbers and found no significant reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, sensitization, or phototoxicity in its key animal study at the 8% concentration.
The only real concern about this ingredient is that it's a known contact/photo-allergen for some people. It's also not very photostable on its own and gradually degrades with sun exposure.
See all 33 products with Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
