Sunscreen in the US is finally getting a new ingredient after decades of delays. The FDA has cleared bemotrizinol (BEMT) for use, a UV filter long available in Europe, Asia and Australia that health officials and advocates say could close a serious gap in protection against skin cancer–linked rays. "Bemotrizinol has been used safely in Europe for decades," said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, said in a statement, adding that the move should boost both competition and consumer trust. The FDA says this is the first new active ingredient allowed in over-the-counter sunscreens since the late 1990s,
Current US sunscreens are good at blocking UVB rays, which cause sunburns, but often fall short against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper and are tied to premature aging, immune suppression, and skin cancers. Research cited by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found US products deliver, on average, about a quarter of the UVA defense their SPF numbers suggest. EWG scientists say BEMT has stronger safety data than any other UV filter. Researchers say it breaks down in the sun less easily than other sunscreens and also has lower rates of absorption into the body, NBC News reports.
It can also be paired with zinc oxide to offer broad protection with less of the chalky look. "This is a great day for American consumers and everyone who has fought to improve sunscreen options and close the UVA protection gap in US sunscreens," David Andrews, the EWG's chief science officer, said in a statement, per CNN. "For decades, Americans have used outdated sunscreen tech while the rest of the world moved forward. The approval of bemotrizinol will help change that." Andrews called FDA approval "a win that has been a long time coming."
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