FDA proposes adding bemotrizinol to sunscreen active ingredient list

The Food and Drug Administration announced a proposal Thursday to make another sunscreen ingredient available to U.S. manufacturers.

The ingredient — a UV light filter called bemotrizinol — has long been available in Europe, Australia and some Asian countries. On social media, skin care enthusiasts share their sunscreen hauls from abroad.

So, why all the hype around a sunscreen ingredient?

UV filters do the job of blocking out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. To be most effective, they need to be “broad-spectrum,” meaning they block out both UVA and UVB rays.

“The ‘B’ is ‘burning rays,’ which causes sunburn. The ‘A’ is the ‘aging ray,’ which causes tanning reaction, wrinkle formation,” said Dr. Henry Lim, former chair of dermatology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit and past pr