Sunscreen Ingredients

There are currently 17 active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sunscreen in the United States. A UVA absorber, ecamsule (brand name Mexoryl), was the most recent addition to the approved list when it was added in 2006. Before ecamsule, zinc oxide was approved in 1998 and avobenzone was approved in 1996. Ecamsule, zinc oxide and avobenzone all help protect against UVA. Active ingredients approved earlier generally protect against UVB.

Sunscreens that are designed to protect against both UVB and UVA, often through a combination of ingredients, are called “broad spectrum” sunscreens because they cover both the UVB and UVA spectra.

Active ingredients can be classified into 2 broad categories. Most are chemical absorbers for either UVB or UVA. Absorbers create a chemical reaction that allows the sunscreen to absorb the ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the skin. A few ingredients are reflectors, sometimes also called diffusers or “blockers.” Reflectors are physical barriers to the UV rays and block or reflect them away from the skin.

A list of the most common active ingredients currently used in sunscreens includes:

Aminobenzoic acid (PABA) absorbs UVB
Avobenzone (Parasol 1789) absorbs UVA
Ecamsule (Mexoryl) absorbs UVA
Homosatate absorbs UVB
Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate or OMCI) absorbs UVB
Octisalate (Octyl saticylate) absorbs UVB
Octocrylene absorbs UVB and UVA
Oxybensone absorbs UVA
Padimate 0 (Octyldimthyl PABA) absorbs UVB
Titanium dioxide blocks UVB and UVA
Zinc oxide blocks UVB and UVA