Benzophenone 4
What are the aims of this patient information leaflet?
This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about your contact allergy. It tells you what a contact allergy is, what causes this allergy and what you can do about it.
What is contact allergy?
Dermatitis, also known as eczema, describes a type of inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis or contact eczema is a term used when this inflammation is caused by direct or indirect skin contact with something in your environment. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your immune system causes allergy to a very specific chemical or substance that has been in contact with the skin.
What causes your specific allergy?
Your patch tests indicate that you have a contact allergy to Benzophenone 4.
What is Benzophenone 4?
Benzophenone 4 is also known as 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, Sulisobenzone, Uvinul MS-40, Spectra-Sorb UV 284 or Sungard. Benzophenone 4 is a sunscreen chemical. It is widely used as an ultraviolet light filter in sunscreens, cosmetics, and plastics. Benzophenone 4 absorbs ultraviolet radiation and is therefore used in sunscreens to help protect the skin from sun damage. It is also added to cosmetic products, such as shampoos, to prevent the product being damaged by exposure to light. It is also added to some plastics or coatings to reduce the effect of sunlight degrading the plastic items, such as toys and plastic wrist bands. Benzophenone 4 can also cause ‘Photoallergic contact dermatitis’. This means that it can sometimes only cause allergy if the chemical has come into contact with the skin AND been exposed to sunlight.
What are some products that contain Benzophenone 4?
Benzophenone 4 is commonly used in topical sunscreens, moisturizers, shampoos, hair care products, cosmetics (lipstick, lip balms, creams and lotions), nail polish, plastic materials and dental composite materials. It is also used as colour preserver in paints, printing inks and varnishes.
Check the ingredient listing of products for the name Benzophenone 4.
Remember, always check the label, these lists can never be complete and ingredients change.
How can I manage my allergy?
This means that you should avoid putting products containing Benzophenone 4 onto your skin in the future.
You should avoid contact on the skin with cosmetics or sunscreens which contain benzophenone 4 in the future.
Please note that sunscreens and cosmetic products, such as shampoos, will have a clearly labelled ingredient list, so that you can check if the product contains benzophenone 4 or not. Plastic items/ paints/ varnishes will however not usually have a label to make you aware of the ingredients.
Self-care (what can I do?)
Always check the ingredient listing on the product, package or package insert as these lists can never be complete and ingredients change. This is particularly important for any products purchased outside the EU where some allergens may not be banned.
Created: 2026