What did the FDA do about sunscreen?

Question

Hans Steiner · Accepted Answer

FDA approved a new sunscreen ingredient after decades

The FDA approved bemotrizinol, also known as BEMT, as the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in more than 25 years. The approval is notable because it expands the list of active ingredients available for sunscreen formulations and gives consumers another option beyond older, long-used filters.

What this means for consumers

With the FDA adding bemotrizinol to allowed sunscreen ingredients, products that use the ingredient can be marketed in the U.S. within the regulatory framework. For people trying to protect themselves from sun exposure, this could translate into new product choices and potentially different formulation options.

Why it matters

Sunscreen is one of the most practical tools for reducing ultraviolet exposure, which is linked to skin damage and skin cancers over time. An expanded set of approved active ingredients can matter for:

Broadening available sunscreen formulations
Supporting product innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight
Ensuring consumers have access to ingredients that have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness

The bottom line

In short, federal regulators cleared bemotrizinol as a new sunscreen active ingredient, bringing a long-awaited update to the U.S. sunscreen landscape.

First new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years
Ingredient: bemotrizinol (BEMT)
Approval enables new sunscreen products using the chemical