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What to know about the new formulas
NBC News • • business
Key Points:
- The FDA has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT), a chemical sunscreen ingredient long used in Europe, offering Americans a new broad-spectrum option that protects against both UVA and UVB rays without causing white streaking or discoloration.
- BEMT has decades of safety data showing minimal skin absorption, addressing concerns raised by older chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone, which the FDA recently revoked due to safety issues.
- The ingredient is stable under sunlight, unlike avobenzone, the only other chemical that filters UVA rays, making BEMT a more durable and effective sunscreen component.
- Environmental impact studies on BEMT are limited, with the EU noting only limited evidence of toxicity; however, concerns about coral reef damage have led to bans on other chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate in some U.S. states.
- Dermatologists emphasize that sunscreen should be part of a broader sun-protection strategy, including wearing protective clothing and seeking shade, and recommend reapplying sunscreen regularly, especially when swimming or sweating.
