The FDA has approved bemotrizinol, the first new active sunscreen ingredient approved in the U.S. since the 1990s.
Bemotrizinol provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and is more photostable than existing sunscreen ingredients.
Studies suggest bemotrizinol has low skin absorption and does not appear to have hormone-disrupting effects.
Soon, you won’t have to ask your jetsetting friend to bring back sunscreens from abroad. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved bemotrizinol, making it the first new active sunscreen ingredient approved in the U.S. since the 1990s.1
Sunscreens containing the new ingredient may hit U.S. shelves as early as August, according to Jane Yoo, MD, MPP, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and clinical assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
“This is a genuinely historic day for sunscreen science and public health in the United States. I’ve been advocating for this approval for years, including on Capitol Hill. The regulatory gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world has cost American consumers access to superior sun protection for decades,” Yoo told Verywell in an email.
What Makes Bemotrizinol Different From Existing Sunscreen Ingredients?
Bemotrizinol has been used in Europe and Asia for years, but regulatory hurdles and differences in how the FDA evaluates sunscreen ingredients delayed its approval in the U.S.
Bemotrizinol offers broad-spectrum protection against both UVB and UVA radiation.2 As a broad-spectrum ingredient, it can help prevent sunburns and wrinkles. UVB radiation harms the skin’s outer layer, while UVA radiation goes deeper, contributing to photoaging and the birth of precancerous cells.3
“This offers much better protection against UVA and UVB than what we currently have,” Lauren A. Fine, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder and medical director of Fine Dermatology in Chicago, told Verywell.
Many U.S. sunscreens rely on avobenzone for UVA protection, but avobenzone can become unstable in sunlight unless paired with stabilizing ingredients. In comparison, bemotrizinol doesn’t break down as quickly and is highly photostable on its own.4 It is also safe for adults and children over six months old and does not cause significant skin irritation.1
“Bemotrizinol is widely regarded among dermatologists as one of the most sophisticated UV filters available,” Yoo said.
Bemotrizinol May Ease Concerns About Skin Absorption
Unlike other sunscreen active ingredients, only a very small amount of bemotrizinol gets absorbed into the skin.
“This is meaningful for patients with sensitive skin and those who are concerned about systemic absorption—a topic that has generated significant consumer anxiety in recent years around existing chemical filters,” Yoo said.
Certain sunscreen ingredients, like oxybenzone, may act as hormone disruptors, but more studies are needed to fully understand the effects of these ingredients on humans.5
Lab studies suggest that bemotrizinol does not have an estrogenic effect, which is reassuring for anyone cautious about using other sunscreen ingredients, Yoo added.6
