Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL, are all the chemicals that are sitting on the shelf with the FDA, while other countries are enjoying the benefits of non-greasy sunscreen and no white tint from application.
The FDA considers these chemicals as drugs, which then would call for years of tests and studies, prolonging the time it takes to put the sunscreen on the market. Although there are other products with chemicals in them, they all follow the guidelines and fall under the 21 agents that are allowed to be in the products. Which then considers them legal over the counter products.
A new ingredient hasn’t been introduced since 1999, and not until 2002 finally accepted and integrated into the list of ingredients. In other places such as the European Union, their rules about new products/chemicals are a little more lax, allowing for them to apply and pass the reviews quicker. Making it possibly worse for those who could have prevented diagnoses of skin cancer.
Dermatologists and other sympathizers of a quick review and decision from the FDA took the argument to the House and Senate. They got the Sunscreen Innovation Act passed and signed by the president, but instead of having a positive outcome, it backfired. The FDA was required to come to a decision within 180 days of submission, but they never had to say yes; it was only required that they came to a decision. They claimed to not have enough data and evidence to even pass the ingredients because they did not know any long-term effects. There were still factors that they were unsure about; like what would happen when the sun came into contact with the creams and the skin.
The CDC recommends that people still use sunscreen often, whether the weather is cold or not. Since the 1970s people have bought and used more sunscreen than ever before because of the lack of understanding of the benefits.
The FDAs refusal to pass compounds and agents may also be affecting our health, with a staggering 76,000 people coming down with Melanomas of the skin, from a survey in 2014. Skin cancer was a public health crisis and yet the FDA has the industry stuck.