Why isn't ethylhexyl triazone used in US sunscreens?

It has not gone through the FDA's UV filter approval process, which is a separate and slower track than the EU's ingredient approval system. That reflects a regulatory gap, not a specific safety finding against the ingredient.

Is ethylhexyl triazone a well-studied UV filter?

The European safety review found it highly photostable with low skin penetration and approved it for use up to 5 percent. As with any UV filter, it can still irritate some people's skin.

uv-filter

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Generally safe·Strong evidence

An organic UVB filter approved in the EU and widely used in Korean and Japanese sunscreens at up to 5 percent. It is highly photostable and shows low skin penetration in the reviewed data. It is not on the FDA-approved UV filter list, so US-formulated sunscreens do not use it; that is a regulatory-process gap rather than a documented safety finding against the ingredient.

Questions

Why isn't ethylhexyl triazone used in US sunscreens?: It has not gone through the FDA's UV filter approval process, which is a separate and slower track than the EU's ingredient approval system. That reflects a regulatory gap, not a specific safety finding against the ingredient.
Is ethylhexyl triazone a well-studied UV filter?: The European safety review found it highly photostable with low skin penetration and approved it for use up to 5 percent. As with any UV filter, it can still irritate some people's skin.

Products with Ethylhexyl Triazone

In our guides

References

SCCNFP Opinion on 2,4,6-Trianilino-(p-carbo-2-ethylhexyl-1-oxi)-1,3,5-triazine ↗

Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. A verdict is a reading of the published evidence, never a guarantee for your skin: any ingredient can irritate someone, so patch test new products and see a professional if you react. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.