FDA considers new sunscreen ingredient for better skin protection, first in decades

Karah Rucker

A CHEMICAL THAT COULD OFFER BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST THE SUN’S HARMFUL U-V RAYS HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR OVER 20-YEARS. BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY FINALLY BE READY TO APPROVE BEMO-TRIZINOL

IT 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 (FUR-MIN-ISH) TO APPROVE WHAT’S BETTER KNOWN AS PARASOL SHIELD. 

EXPERTS SAY BY USING THE INGREDIENT WE COULD OUTPERFORM SOME OF THE SUNSCREENS WE’RE USING NOW–GIVING AMERICANS THE SAME ADVANCED PROTECTION THAT PEOPLE IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND FRANCE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING FOR YEARS. 

HOWEVER, THE PATH TO APPROVAL HAS BEEN A LONG ONE.

DSM-FIRMENICH HAS ALREADY SPENT TWO DECADES 18-MILLION-DOLLARS TRYING TO CLEAR THE FDA’S HURDLES. 

U-S REGULATIONS MAKE APPROVAL A LENGTHY PROCESS. AND THOUGH THE FDA DEFENDS THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, SOME ARGUE THAT FASTER ACCESS TO NEWER 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 STAGGERING SIX-POINT-ONE MILLION CASES OF SKIN CANCER TREATED EVERY YEAR.

THE FDA HAS UNTIL EARLY 20-26 TO DECIDE ON THE SUBMISSION. 

I’M KARAH RUCKER AND FOR MORE HEALTH UPDATES, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT STRAIGHT-ARROW-NEWS-DOT-COM