For many years, Americans have had fewer sunscreen ingredients to choose from than consumers in Europe and Asia.
This is because sunscreen is regulated as a drug in the United States and must therefore undergo extensive approval procedures, writes National Geographic.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), no new sunscreen ingredient has been approved since 1999.
Meanwhile, European countries have allowed a much wider range of UV filters in their products.
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New regulations
A legislative change introduced last year has made it easier for the FDA to evaluate ingredients that are already being used safely in other countries.
This has opened the door to more new products entering the U.S. market.
At the same time, dermatologists emphasize that sunscreen remains one of the most important tools for protecting the skin against both skin cancer and premature aging.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, even when it is cloudy.
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First approval in 20 years
The new ingredient is called bemotrizinol. The substance has been used in European and Asian sunscreens for more than 20 years but has only now been approved in the United States.
According to experts, bemotrizinol provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
The substance remains effective on the skin for longer and breaks down more slowly in sunlight than several older ingredients. It is also absorbed through the skin to a lesser extent.
The FDA’s decision means that bemotrizinol will become the first new sunscreen ingredient approved in the United States in more than two decades.
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Manufacturers are expected to launch products containing the ingredient later this year.
Sources: National Geographic, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and American Academy of Dermatology.
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