There is good news this month for sunscreen manufacturers across the U.S. The Senate passed a bill that requires the FDA to respond to pending sunscreen ingredients within a shorter period of time. Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S., and sunscreen is the primary protection against it. It’s more important than ever that Americans are conscious of the most up-to-date ways to protect their skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Still, eight sunscreen ingredients have been pending in FDA backlog for years—some for more than a decade—even while several have already been used in Europe and Asia safely and successfully. The FDA treats sunscreen approvals in a similar manner to drugs, so it has more safety requirements than cosmetics. The Sunscreen Innovation Act had optimistic proponents, who helped it move along quickly this summer. Once the House and Senate agree on the final version of the bill it will move up to President Obama to sign.
What are your thoughts on ingredient approvals and related innovation in skincare? What are your go-to sunscreen ingredients?