From JDD’s Vault: The State of Sunscreens in the US: Caveat Emptor
With the FDA’s groundbreaking June 2026 approval of a new sunscreen ingredient, bemotrizinol (also called BEMT or Tinosorb S), the landscape of American photoprotection is undergoing its most significant shift in decades. For years, clinicians and patients alike navigated a regulatory environment where domestic UV filters lagged behind global standards, leaving practitioners to balance patient expectations with available options.
This landmark decision breathes new life into a classic article from JDD’s archives In The State of Sunscreens in the US: Caveat Emptor authors Lisa Akintilo, MD, MPH, and Ellen Gendler, MD, examine the historical limitations of U.S. photoprotection, analyzing critical differences in UVA coverage, chemical filter stability, and the performance of physical sunblocks compared to international formulations.
As patients inevitably ask how newly approved filters fit alongside established regimens for melasma, photoaging, and skin cancer prevention, revisiting the foundational principles outlined in this piece provides invaluable context. Understanding where domestic sunscreens stood helps contextualize where photoprotection is heading and equips clinicians to offer evidence-based guidance in a changing market.
Read the full discussion to explore how past regulatory hurdles continue to shape modern patient care.
Blog write-up assisted by AI
