Protect Your Skin

Astronomical summer begins tomorrow morning at 4:24 a.m. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere, the point when the earth will be closest to the sun. Because it will also be the longest day of the year, it will also provide the greatest exposure to the sun and its ultraviolet light if you’re going to be outdoors. Of course, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere need protection from the sun, too, even though winter sun isn’t as harsh. Protecting your skin is a year-round effort, so let’s see what all the fuss is about with the approval of BEMT.

Safety Consideration

I checked the PubChem database for BEMT (short for bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, AKA Bemotrizinol or Tinosorb-S). There were no safety issues with any of the 144 studies that are typically done for new chemicals. Further, the FDA document did not find any safety concerns in any of the animal or safety trials. It had minimal systemic absorption with rare, mild adverse events. There was also no evidence of androgen- or estrogen-receptor binding that had been a concern with other sunscreen ingredients in the past. BEMT is considered safer for babies and small children and for people with sensitive skin.

The FDA has approved this chemical as Generally Regarded as Safe at no more than a 6% solution. That means it’s not a pharmaceutical and will be regulated the same as dietary supplements.

Why It May Provide Better Protection

Besides the safety considerations, BEMT appears to be photostable, which means it doesn’t have to be applied as often throughout the day. One of the features is that it doesn’t appear to leave a white cast on the skin, so you can keep looking great. The most important feature is that it maintains the photoprotection longer. Consistent use over time will reduce the risk of sunburn, aging skin, and skin cancers.

While I looked, I could not find any data to support a benefit in the reduction of skin cancers in the countries that have had it available; no one has decided to find out the answer to that question yet. Perhaps with its introduction in the U.S. market, a graduate student will take that on as a question to be answered.

The Bottom Line

The only downside to the new sunscreen ingredient is that it will take time to find its way into the current marketplace. It’s been available on the internet for a while, so you can get it wherever you are. Whether you use the current products or add the new ones that will inevitably follow, I believe it’s important because it will reduce the inflammation caused from skin damage by UV rays—and we all know inflammation of any kind is the enemy. Every bit of inflammation we can reduce will improve our immune systems, and that will help our entire body.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Bemotrizinol
2. https://iit.msu.edu/news/2025-12-16-CRIS-in-the-news-bemotrizinol.html
3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/omuf/order/supportDoc/OTC000039/2.2_Introduction_to_the_Summary_Documents/rev_introduction_090026f88e1259aa.pdf