Does sunscreen leave stains on clothes?

Why does sunscreen stain white shirts?

Some UV filters, the ingredients that protect skin from ultraviolet light, have a slight yellow colour. Avobenzone, also listed as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, can oxidise and produce darker yellow or orange marks. Oils can leave separate greasy stains. White and other light fabrics show stains more readily, and natural fibres such as cotton are particularly vulnerable.1

Iron and copper in washing water can react with sunscreen filters and intensify stains, so hard water can make matters worse. Powder detergent and bleach can also deepen filter stains, making the laundry cupboard an unexpectedly unhelpful place.1

How do I remove sunscreen stains from clothes?

1. 1Rub a liquid laundry detergent designed for stains into the mark.
2. 2Leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse and wash.
3. 3Avoid hot water for yellow filter stains: even 40 degrees Celsius can intensify them.
4. 4After washing, hang white clothing in sunlight to help bleach remaining marks.

Take delicate fabrics, including silk or linen, to a dry cleaner.1

What sunscreen does not stain clothes?

A water based, less greasy formula can help reduce oil marks. That does not settle whether its filters will leave yellow stains. Rub sunscreen in fully before it contacts clothing.1

Choosing by the UV filter alone misses the rest of the formula. Sunscreens also contain ingredients such as emollients, emulsifiers, stabilisers and colouring compounds, so the active ingredient list is not the whole cast.2

Check the label for fabric warnings. For example, Dr. C. Tuna Sun 6 SPF Tan and Care Carrot oil lists octinoxate as its active ingredient and warns that it may stain some fabrics. Avobenzone is not the only consideration.3

Does letting sunscreen settle keep it in place?

Sunscreen forms a protective film on skin; rubbing it in does not make that film immune to movement. Friction from clothing and towels can affect sunscreen performance. Sweat can wash sunscreen away or redistribute it unevenly, reducing protection. A formula's resistance to water also depends on its ingredients, rather than sunscreen being one uniform substance.4