FDA Approves Bemotrizinol, First New Sunscreen Ingredient Since 1999
The FDA has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT), a UV-filtering ingredient that has been used in European and Asian sunscreens for over 20 years, marking the first approval of a new sunscreen ingredient in the United States since 1999. The approval addresses long-standing complaints that American sunscreens lag behind international formulas in effectiveness and cosmetic appeal, particularly in blocking UVA rays and avoiding white cast. The development could significantly improve sun protection options for US consumers, though new products using the ingredient may take over a year to reach the market.
The FDA has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT), a chemical UV filter that absorbs both UVA and UVB rays and resists breakdown from sunlight exposure. This represents the first new sunscreen ingredient approved by the FDA since 1999, addressing a significant regulatory gap that has kept American sunscreen formulations behind those available in Europe, Asia, and other regions. The delay stems from the FDA's classification of sunscreens as non-prescription drugs requiring lengthy approval processes, whereas other countries classify them as cosmetics subject to faster regulatory pathways. Dermatologists have noted that current US sunscreens excel at blocking UVB rays (which cause sunburn) but rely on a single unstable UVA-blocking ingredient, avobenzone, leaving consumers vulnerable to deeper-penetrating UVA damage that causes skin cancer and premature aging. Beyond efficacy concerns, American sunscreens are widely criticized for leaving white residue and feeling greasy compared to international alternatives. The approval of bemotrizinol should enable manufacturers to create more effective, cosmetically elegant formulations, though consumers will need to wait over a year for these improved products to become available.
What's missing
The articles do not explain the specific safety or efficacy data that led to bemotrizinol's approval, nor do they discuss why the FDA maintained stricter standards than other regulatory bodies for decades, or whether there were previous applications for this ingredient that were rejected. Additionally, there is no discussion of the timeline for when products containing bemotrizinol will actually reach consumers or which manufacturers plan to use it.
What different sources said
- Business InsiderLeft
The FDA just glowed up your sunscreen — by approving a popular ingredient in European and Asian formulas
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