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Dermatologist explains benefits of newly approved sunscreen ingredient
PBS • • business
Key Points:
- The FDA has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT) as a new active ingredient for over-the-counter sunscreens, the first such approval in over 25 years, allowing manufacturers to use it starting August 9, 2026.
- Bemotrizinol is a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB blocker that offers cosmetic advantages over mineral sunscreens by not leaving a white cast and has negligible skin absorption, making it safer and less irritating.
- The ingredient has been used safely in Europe and Asia since the 1990s, but regulatory hurdles delayed its U.S. approval; new legislation aims to speed up future access to safe sunscreen ingredients.
- Consumers may see sunscreens containing bemotrizinol on U.S. shelves shortly after its approval, initially exclusive to one company for 18 months before wider availability.
- Experts emphasize that sunscreen is a critical tool in preventing skin cancer, recommending combined use with sun-protective clothing and avoiding peak sun hours to reduce melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer risks.
