Why Is the Most Effective Sunscreen Illegal?
May 29, 2004 -- This summer tens of millions of Americans will apply creams and lotions to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun. What most do not realize is that most of the sunscreens available in the United States are inferior to those available almost everywhere else in the world.
In Europe, Asia, South America, Canada, Mexico and Australia, people are using the newest, most effective sunscreens. What makes them superior is an ingredient called Mexoryl.
"It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine, or at least as good as we can get at this time," Dr. Vincent Deleo, chairman of the dermatology department at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, told ABC News.
Sunscreens contain a combination of ingredients such as oxybenzone, Parsol 1789 or titanium oxide. But adding mexoryl takes sun protection to a whole new level, according to Dr. Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University and a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
"Mexoryl is over two times better than any other combination of ingredients that currently exist, in terms of protecting from ultraviolet A radiation," said Rigel.
The sun's ultraviolet A radiation, which can penetrate glass, causes wrinkles and sagging skin, contributes to skin cancer, and weakens the immune system.
While most sunscreens are effective at blocking UVB rays responsible most sunburns, few lotions have provided broad UVA protection until the arrival of Mexoryl.
Mexoryl has been available around the world for the past several years, but it has yet to be approved for use in the United States. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration declined to say whether it's even under consideration.
European studies have shown the compound is both safe and effective, which leaves many American doctors increasingly frustrated it is not sold in the United States.
"It would be better if we had sunscreens containing Mexoryl available to our population in the U.S.," said Rigel. "The rest of the world has them; there's no reason we shouldn't have them also."
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