The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved bemotrizinol, the first new sunscreen filter allowed in the United States in roughly 20 years [2].
This regulatory shift is significant because U.S. sunscreen formulations have lagged behind international standards for decades [3]. The approval allows American manufacturers to utilize a filter that has already been widely used in Europe and Asia [1, 2].
Bemotrizinol, also known as Tinosorb M [1], is a broad-spectrum UV filter. It provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays [4]. According to available data, the ingredient is characterized by low levels of skin absorption [4].
Medical professionals have welcomed the decision. "The FDA approved a new ingredient for sunscreen that's been in use in Europe for years," Dr. Jon LaPook said [6].
For years, consumers and dermatologists have noted the gap between domestic and foreign sun care products. The addition of bemotrizinol aims to provide broader protection to prevent skin damage, and cancer. One dermatologist said, "I will be the first in line to purchase it" [5].
The move addresses a long-standing stagnation in the U.S. sun care market. While other regions adopted more advanced filters, the U.S. market relied on older ingredients until this recent approval [3, 5].
“The FDA approved a new ingredient for sunscreen that's been in use in Europe for years.”
The approval of bemotrizinol signals a modernization of U.S. skin protection standards. By adopting a filter already vetted in European and Asian markets, the FDA is closing a multi-decade gap in UV protection technology, potentially increasing the efficacy of over-the-counter sunscreens in preventing long-term skin damage.
