FDA clears first new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years
Why it matters: Bemotrizinol, already used in Europe and Asia, blocks UVA and UVB rays and could expand lighter-feeling sunscreen options in the US.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved bemotrizinol, or BEMT, as a new active ingredient for over-the-counter sunscreens, the first such clearance in more than 25 years. The ingredient has been used in Europe and Asia since the 1990s and is designed to protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. Dermatologist Rachel Nazarian said BEMT offers broad-spectrum protection without the white cast often associated with mineral sunscreens and has negligible absorption into the body. The move opens the door for manufacturers to add the ingredient to products sold in the United States at a time when more than 8,500 Americans are expected to die from melanoma this year.