No matter the ingredient, Intermountain Health Dermatologists still emphasize importance of broad-spectrum sunscreens to protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
Salt Lake City, UT (PRUnderground) July 14th, 2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new sunscreen ingredient called Bemotrizinol or BEMT. BEMT has been used in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia for about 20 years, which will start hitting U.S. shelves in August.
BEMT sunscreens won’t be on the shelves in the U.S. until Aug. 9. But, according to the American Academy of Dermatology the FDA approval of BEMT is an important public-health step that will expand current options for safe and effective sunscreens.
According to an environmental industry group focused on public health, BEMT offers a stable chemical sunscreen option that doesn’t break down in the sun, unlike common chemical sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone or oxybenzone. Chemical sunscreens are easier to rub in but can be absorbed in the bloodstream.
“There are chemical sunscreens and mineral sunscreens and they work differently,” said Bryce Desmond, MD, a dermatologist with Intermountain Health. ” BEMT is a chemical sunscreen that works against both kinds of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB rays.”
Mineral sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide and sit on top of the skin, acting as a physical sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens form a protective layer on the skin that reflects, scatters, and absorbs UV radiation. But mineral sunscreens tend to be hard to rub in and have a white cast to them unless they are tinted.
Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV radiation and converting it into a small amount of heat before it can damage the skin. But BEMT levels of absorption are far lower than other chemical options and are much less likely to cause skin reactions in sensitive individuals.
“There are pros and cons for both types of sunscreens, but what you really want to look for is a broad-spectrum sunscreen,” said Dr. Desmond. “I recommend broad-spectrum sunscreen because it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. There are many sunscreens already available that are broad spectrum. And BEMT is an ingredient that will be found in broad-spectrum sunscreen.”
Dr. Desmond explained there are two types of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB. “UVA rays are more associated with premature aging and wrinkles, and UVB rays are more associated with rays that cause sunburn and are a major driver of skin cancer,” he said.
“The best kind of sunscreen is the one that you’ll actually use,” said Dr. Desmond. “Many people forget to reapply sunscreen when in the sun for longer than 80 minutes, or after sweating, or being in water, and they end up with a sunburn, and that has been proven to increase your risk for skin cancer. There is no evidence any sunscreen causes cancer.”
According to dermatologists, sunscreen is considered generally safe for adults and children six months and older.
“Infants under one year of age have a high body surface area to mass ratio, so chemical sunscreen would be more absorbed into their bloodstream,” added Dr. Desmond.
For people with medium or dark skin, sunscreen is still recommended to prevent aging and skin cancer.
Intermountain Health offers in-person and virtual visits for skin conditions. For details, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/dermatology. Some dermatology conditions can be treated online through a pharmacist through Intermountain’s On-Demand Services.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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