News|Articles|June 16, 2026

A new ingredient for sunscreen; talking about sleep for health; AMA roundup — Morning Medical Update

Fact checked by: Keith A. Reynolds
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Key Takeaways

  • FDA authorization of bemotrizinol expands U.S. OTC sunscreen options with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and low systemic exposure potential based on minimal skin absorption.
  • Adoption is notable as the first newly permitted OTC sunscreen active ingredient since the late 1990s, reflecting long-standing regulatory inertia in photoprotection innovation.
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The top news stories in medicine today.

Something new under the sun for U.S. sunscreen

It’s sunscreen season for much of the United States. When you or your patients go out to enjoy the warm weather, there’s a new option for skin protection this year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month announced bemotrizinol now is a permitted active ingredient in sunscreen. It’s the first new active ingredient added to over-the-counter sunscreen since the late 1990s. Bemotrizinol provides protection against both ultraviolet A and B rays and has low levels of absorption through the skin into the body, the FDA announcement said. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said it’s been used safely in Europe for decades.

Getting rest is best

If your patients’ difficulties with getting healthy rest are keeping you up at night, check out the latest news at the SLEEP 2026 conference happening now in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s the 40th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies and the research has implications for physicians, patients and anyone who could use a little shuteye. Here’s the conference website, with links to the latest news, and additional coverage from Patient Care and Psychiatric Times, two sister publications of Medical Economics.

AMA roundup

This month, the American Medical Association held its annual House of Delegates meeting in Chicago. In case you missed any of the latest policies and personnel, here’s an online roundup with highlights.