It's also used in sunscreens as a UV filtering ingredient, helping to protect a person's skin by blocking absorption the ultraviolet light that can cause sunburn and cancer.

Faber argued there hasn't been enough change in these federal regulations in the decades following the FDA's approval of titanium dioxide – especially as others increasingly point to potential health consequences.

So what does this have to do with you?

Recently, Yanagisawa et al. reported that the transdermal exposure (mimicking skin-barrier dysfunction or defect) of NC/Nga mice to TiO₂ NPs (15, 50, or 100 nm), in combination with allergen, aggravated atopic dermatitis-like lesions through a T-helper type 2 (Th2) dominant immune response. The study also indicated that TiO₂ NPs can play a role in the initiation and/or progression of skin diseases, since histamine was released, even in the absence of allergen.