What is retinyl palmitate?
Retinyl palmitate is a skin-conditioning agent that is commonly found in sunscreens [5][1].What products is retinyl palmitate in?
Retinyl palmitate is an active chemical ingredient in sunscreen [1].How to tell if a product has retinyl palmitate
Avoid products that contain retinyl palmitate as well as these synonyms on their ingredient lists: vitamin a palmitate; axerophthol palmitate; hexadecanoate retinol; retinol palmitate; retinol, hexadecanoate; aquasol a; arovit; optovit-a; retinol palmitate [5].Risks associated with retinyl palmitate
Ironically, individuals who apply retinyl palmitate to their skin (as an ingredient in sunscreen), may actually be increasing their chances of developing skin cancer, tumors, lesions, and melanoma. Additionally, German and Norwegian health agencies along with the FDA have noted that daily application of vitamin A creams could lead to excessive vitamin A intake for pregnant women and other vulnerable populations [5]. Using products that contain retinyl palmitate can lead to a variety of problems. Retinyl palmitate is known to be a human reproductive toxicant according to the FDA [5] but other health issues associated with this ingredient include:- Damage to sun-exposed skin [2]
- Skin cancer [3]
- Cellular mutations [5]
