{"id":14771,"date":"2026-06-10T22:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T22:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=14771"},"modified":"2026-06-10T22:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T22:02:27","slug":"fda-approves-bemotrizinol-what-outdoor-athletes-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=14771","title":{"rendered":"FDA Approves Bemotrizinol. What Outdoor Athletes Should Know."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>The sunscreen ingredient bemotrizinol, long available in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, just got approved for use in the United States. It may offer better protection against UV rays than other products on the market. A dermatologist explains why this is such a big deal and whether it can withstand the demands of running, climbing, and hiking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: SanderStock\/Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published June 10, 2026 03:42PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"\" class=\"content-card rounded-xl px-base-loose pt-base-loose pb-loose shadow-sm shadow-black\/10\">\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:\u00a0<\/strong>On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bemotrizinol, an active ingredient in sunscreen that\u2019s long been available in other countries for decades. The ingredient may be more effective at blocking UV rays than other products currently available in the U.S. Dermatologists explain what this news means for outdoor athletes.<\/p>\n<section id=\"\"><em><strong>This article has been medically reviewed by\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/ingridyang.com\/about\/\">Ingrid Yang, MD<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- --><\/section>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new sunscreen ingredient called bemotrizinol this week, on Tuesday, June 9. The chemical compound has been safely used in sunscreens sold in Europe, Australia, and some Asian countries, and dermatologists are excited that it will now be available in the U.S. The approval of this sunscreen active ingredient marks the first of its kind since the late nineties, according to the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-expands-sunscreen-options-first-time-20-years\">FDA\u2019s latest news report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><i>Outside<\/i> spoke with dermatologists to learn how bemotrizinol works\u2014and why it\u2019s a great pick for outdoor athletes. Here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Bemotrizinol and How Well Does It Protect the Skin From the Sun?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cBemotrizinol is an excellent chemical filter for athletes who spend a lot of time outside,\u201d says <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.michelegreenmd.com\/\">Dr. Michele Green<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist who provides both cosmetic and medical skin procedures like skin cancer treatment in New York City, New York.<\/p>\n<p>Bemotrizinol is a broad-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) filter that provides protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. \u201cTypical U.S. sunscreens effectively block UVB rays but may underestimate the power of UVA on your skin,\u201d says Green. \u201cUVA rays have a significant impact on the skin, often penetrating deeper and contributing to premature aging and even cancer,\u201d she told <i>Outside<\/i>. It\u2019s also safe for children who are older than six months and adults.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/profiles.mountsinai.org\/helen-y-he\">Dr. Helen He<\/a>, a New York-based dermatologist with a background in treating inflammatory skin diseases and aging skin, says the ingredient bemotrizinol is also photostable. \u201cThis means it does not degrade with sun exposure, unlike many of the other organic filters currently available in the U.S., making it a great option for those who are active and spend a lot of time outdoors,\u201d says He.<\/p>\n<p>Sunscreens containing bemotrizinol may be more comfortable and more protective, too, says Green. \u201cBemotrizinol has a large molecular size, which allows it to remain [largely] on the skin\u2019s surface even when wet,\u201d potentially making it less likely to run into the eyes during exercise or when sweating a lot. She adds, \u201cIt is also less greasy; does not leave white, ghostly residue on the skin\u00a0[like mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide]; and rarely causes skin irritation.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Can Bemotrizinol Last During Long or High-Intensity Outdoor Activities?<\/h2>\n<p>Bemotrizinol sunscreens aren\u2019t all the same, and the degree to which a bemotrizinol sunscreen is waterproof will depend on other aspects of its formulation, says He. She adds that, like other sunscreens, bemotrizinol sunscreens can definitely be wiped off by towels or clothes or during intense physical activity like a long run or hike.<\/p>\n<p>All that said, bemotrizinol sunscreens won\u2019t necessarily last longer than sunscreens made with other ingredients, so all athletes (especially anyone spending a lot of time in the water or if you\u2019re sweating a lot) need to reapply frequently. Green recommends reapplying every 90 minutes.<\/p>\n<h2>Is Bemotrizinol Good for the Environment?<\/h2>\n<p>It may be easier on the environment, but there\u2019s some nuance to keep in mind. Bemotrizinol sunscreens may be kinder to ocean life. \u201cUnlike other chemical sunscreen filters, bemotrizinol has not been linked to coral bleaching or disruption of marine life,\u201d says Green. \u201cIt also does not bioaccumulate in marine environments.\u201d That\u2019s a notable upgrade from ingredients like oxybenzone, which has shown coral toxicity in lab studies.<\/p>\n<p>The caveat? The term \u201creef-safe\u201d isn\u2019t regulated, and long-term ocean data on bemotrizinol are still emerging\u2014but the early picture looks promising.<\/p>\n<h2>The Bottom Line on Bemotrizinol Sunscreens<\/h2>\n<p>Dermatologists say that the approval of bemotrizinol is a step in the right direction. \u201cFor athletes who spend significant time outdoors, bemotrizinol is an exciting new tool that can improve photoprotection by offering a highly photostable, broad-spectrum UV filter that is also cosmetically elegant,\u201d says He. \u201cNow that it is FDA-approved, I am excited that in the near future, there will be improved sunscreen formulations for endurance athletes and active individuals that were not previously available.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But bemotrizinol is not a magic bullet, and bemotrizinol sunscreens should not constitute your whole sun protection plan. \u201cIt is still important to reapply frequently, choose a water-resistant formula, seek shade, and wear sun-protective clothing, ideally with UPF [ultraviolet protection factor] protection, wherever possible, says He.<\/p>\n<p><b>Want more\u00a0<\/b><b><i>Outside<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0health stories?\u00a0<\/b><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/hub.outsideinc.com\/bodywork_newsletter_sign_up-0\"><b>Sign up for the Bodywork newsletter<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/health\/wellness\/fda-approves-bemotrizinol-outdoor-athletes\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sunscreen ingredient bemotrizinol, long available in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, just got approved for use in the United States. It may offer better protection against UV rays than other products on the market. A dermatologist explains why this is such a big deal and whether it can withstand the demands of running,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}