Why sunscreen just got more effective in the United States

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Think summer and the word “bemotrizinol” doesn’t spring to mind, but relaxing on the beach or poolside this season just got potentially safer because of that chemical filter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the sunscreen ingredient, long popular in Europe and Asia, for use in the US. Bemotrizinol blocks ultraviolet (UV) A rays—which can further age or wrinkle skin—as well as sunburn-causing ultraviolet B rays.

Michael Kwa is a Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine assistant professor of dermatology who cowrote a 2022 paper that found many new sunscreen ingredients were available in Europe, but not yet in the US.

Here, Kwa explains why the FDA’s blessing bolsters public safety:

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Source: Boston University