US FDA approves new sunscreen ingredient bemotrizinol after 20-year gap

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bemotrizinol, the first new sunscreen active ingredient to be cleared in more than two decades. The approval has drawn attention from dermatologists, as the ingredient has been widely used internationally.

Bemotrizinol offers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are associated with premature ageing, pigmentation, and skin cancer risk. The ingredient is highly photostable, meaning it does not degrade quickly in sunlight, and can improve the stability of other sunscreen filters.

According to Dr. Rashmi Sharma, a dermatologist at Fortis Vasant Kunj, bemotrizinol allows for lighter, less greasy sunscreen formulations, which may improve user compliance. The ingredient has a large molecular size, resulting in minimal absorption into the bloodstream, and has a safety record from use in Europe, Australia, and Asia over many years.

The FDA approval follows a rigorous review of safety and efficacy data. This development provides US consumers access to an ingredient that has been available elsewhere for some time.