Short Wave
Short Wave
NPR
Why your sunscreen is finally getting a major upgrade
9 minutes Posted Jun 12, 2026 at 7:00 am.
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Until this week, the United States hadn’t approved a new sunscreen ingredient in over 20 years. That changed Tuesday, when the FDA approved a new chemical for U.S. sunscreens. It’s called bemotrizinol, and NPR science correspondent Maria Godoy joins us to tell us all about it — including the soonest it’s expected to hit shelves.

Interested in more science news? Email us your question at [email protected].

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this episode incorrectly referred to Dr. Heather Rogers as a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. She is a fellow of the academy.

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