New sunscreen with bemotrizinol is coming to the U.S. Here's what Long Islanders need to know.

Some skin-savvy consumers have spent the last few years hunting for sunscreens made in Europe and Asia, claiming they are more effective than those sold here. One of the reasons is bemotrizinol, an active ingredient in those sunscreens not available in U.S. products.

That changed this week when the Food and Drug Administration added the chemical to a list of active ingredients permitted in sunscreens.

Here's what you need to know about bemotrizinol.

What is bemotrizinol?

Bemotrizinol, or BEMT, is a chemical sunscreen ingredient developed in Switzerland in the late 1990s, according to the American Chemical Society. European manufacturers started using it around 2000, followed by Asia, Australia and Canada.

BEMT protects the skin against ultraviolet A rays (UVA) and ultraviolet B rays (UVB), radiation from the sun that you can’t see or feel. UVA rays can cause premature aging in skin and wrinkles as well as some kinds of skin cancers. UVB rays are associated with sunburns and changes to skin cells that can lead to cancer.

Why is this important?

This is the first time in over 25 years the FDA has approved a new chemical ingredient for sunscreen. Experts said products with BEMT protect against UVA and UVB rays, stay longer on the skin than the existing chemical sunscreen available in the U.S., and don’t cause streaky white marks like mineral sunscreens. Many consumers have gone to social media to praise these sunscreens for being moree lightweight and pleasant to wear.

"Our broad spectrum sunscreens are not as elegant as the ones that are available in Europe and Asia right now," said Dr. Nicole Golbari, a dermatologic surgeon at NYU Langone Health who treats patients at its Garden City center. "They have much better blockage for UVA. They don’t break down as easily."

"That is why we see patients who are using sunscreen, but they're still getting tan," she said. "It's because our sunscreens don't block well against UVA that causes pigmentation of the skin."

What is the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens?

Physical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreens, sit on top of your skin to both reflect and absorb the sun's rays, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. For example, the white cream that many lifeguards wear on their noses is a type of mineral sunscreen that has zinc oxide. There are some mineral sunscreens that don't leave a white residue.

Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun's rays.

The group recommends either sunscreen as long as it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, known as broad spectrum, has a sun protection factor of 30 or higher, and is water resistant.

Are sunscreen products from Europe and Asia really better than those in the U. S.?

"Most of the dermatologists I know, when they go abroad to Europe or Asia for vacation or conferences, will bring back a suitcase of sunscreens with filters that are not yet approved in the U.S.," said Golbari.

Most sunscreens manufactured in the U.S. use avobenzone as a chemical UVA filter.

"Avobenzone breaks down, so it loses effectiveness, the longer it's on you," said Dr. Raman Madan, a dermatologist who sees patients on Long Island and is director of cosmetic dermatology at Northwell Health.

"There’s been a lot of negativity toward chemical sunscreens over the last couple of years, because there was a study that showed that some, like avobenzone, can be absorbed by the body if you put it all over," Madan said.

He said bemotrizinol, a larger molecule than avobenzone, stays on the skin longer and is less likely to be absorbed.

"It seems to be more aesthetically pleasing."

Why did it take so long to approve?

In Europe and Asia, sunscreens are as classified as cosmetics. In the U.S., the FDA treats sunscreen as over-the-counter drugs, requiring a long regulatory approval process as it evaluates the safety and effectiveness.

"It sounds good in theory," Golbari said, "but it has led to an incredibly slow and delayed process for the advancement of sunscreens. And it's why we're dramatically behind Europe when it comes to the quality of our sunscreen." review of the process found it "has potentially affected the overall health of Americans."

The FDA used a faster process to review BEMT that was completed in about 7 months. In the final ruling, it found the chemical to be "generally recognized as safe and effective."

Can I buy sunscreen with BEMT in local stores now?

Sunscreen with BEMT is not currently available in local stores. The order becomes official Aug. 9, and the sunscreen will first be sold in the U.S. under the brand name Parsol Shield.

Should I keep using the sunscreen I have?

Yes! Both Golbari and Madan said people should limit their exposure to sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when it is at its strongest. If you do have to be outside, wear a wide-brimmed hat, loose, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.

"Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply every two hours, especially after being in the water or playing sports," Golbari said.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.