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Benzophenone-4 (Sulisobenzone)
Benzophenone-4 · SulisobenzoneSPF filter
A sunscreen UV filter. Lab tests suggest it switches on PPARγ, a receptor that drives fat-cell formation.
What it does
Benzophenone-4 (sulisobenzone) is a UV filter used in sunscreens and some cosmetics. A 2026 lab study found it switches on PPARγ, a receptor that drives fat-cell formation. It also pushed human stem cells to become fat cells. The authors call it a potential obesogen. The study did not test skin or measure how much reaches the body from sunscreen.
The evidence, graded
emergingBenzophenone-4 (sulisobenzone) is a sunscreen UV filter. A 2026 study screened chemicals by computer, then tested this one in the lab. It bound and switched on PPARγ, a receptor that drives fat-cell formation, and it pushed human stem cells to become fat cells. The authors call it a potential obesogen. An earlier large screen, Tox21, had labelled it inactive. Nothing here measured what gets into the body from sunscreen.Gong 2026 · Toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
sulisobenzone, benzophenone 4, bp-4
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