On Monday, the FDA approved a sunscreen that blocks the type of ultraviolet (UV) radiation which is linked to some cancers. The new sunscreen is called Anthelios SX and contains a better ingredient than the usual sunscreens.
Anthelios SX, the new sunscreen contains ecamscule, which happens to be an ingredient better at blocking ultravioletA, or UVA radiation than other sunscreen ingredients which are sold everywhere. Those ingredients mainly screen out only UVB rays.
According to the FDA, UVB has for a long time been associated with sunburn, while UVA is known for a deeper penetrating radiation. Doctors suspect that there is a link between UVA exposures and longer-term effects, which include wrinkles, basal and squamous cell cancers melanoma.
The new sunscreen, Anthelios is made by the French cosmetics company L’Oreal SA. It has a sun protection factor or SPF of 15. The sunscreen contains three active factors, one of which is called ecamscule or Mexoryl SX. Mexoryl has been included in L’Oreal’s sunscreens which have been sold in Canada and Europe since 1993.