A chemical that could offer better protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays has been on the market for over 20 years. But the chemical, bemotrizinol, hasn’t yet been on sale in the U.S.
Now the federal government may finally be ready to approve bemotrizinol, which would be the first new sunscreen ingredient in decades.
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision in the coming months on a request from skincare giant DSM-Firmenich to approve what’s better known as PARASOL Shield.
Experts say by using the ingredient, some of the current sunscreens on the market in the U.S. could be outperformed. The same protection is used in other countries like Japan, South Korea and France.
However, the path to approval has been a long one. DSM-Firmenich has already spent two decades and $18 million trying to clear the FDA’s hurdles. U.S. regulations make approval a lengthy process, and though the FDA defends the process as essential for public safety, some argue that faster access to new ingredients could make a difference in the fight against skin cancer, the most common cancer in America.
With better sunscreen options, people could fend off harmful UV rays more effectively, helping reduce the 1.6 million cases of skin cancer treated every year. The FDA has until early 2026 to decide on the submission.