4 things to know about the new sunscreen ingredient the FDA approved

Article excerpt

The FDA approved bemotrizinol, marking the first new sunscreen ingredient cleared in the U.S. in two decades. The ingredient has protected skin in Europe and Asia for decades but faced a lengthy regulatory review stateside. The approval expands options for consumers seeking broad-spectrum UV protection, particularly for those with sensitive skin or specific ingredient preferences. Bemotrizinol works by absorbing UV rays and converting them to heat, similar to other organic sunscreen filters. The ingredient's arrival could pressure manufacturers to reformulate products and offer alternatives to widely used but occasionally controversial compounds like oxybenzone.