There's a new drug that is gaining a great deal of popularity in the United States. It won't get you high or help to produce muscle mass. But it will provide what some consider an even bigger rush: the prevention of wrinkles and skin cancer.
The Paris-based skin-care giant L'Oreal makes Mexoryl SX t as an ingredient to used in sunscreen. While this product has been available in Europe and in Canada for more than a decade, the Food and Drug Administration has only recently approved the chemical for use in the United States. In fact, this is the first time that the FDA has approved a new sunscreen filter since 1988.
so what's the big deal? Aren't all sunscreens created equal? Not according to modern research. UV rays come in two varieties , UVA and UVB. UVB rays are the ones that burn the skin. But UVA rays penetrate the outer layer of skin where they break down skin proteins, damage cells and DNA, decrease the skin's immunitty, and generate harmfum free radicals. This in turn leads to wrinkles, brown spot, yellow discoloration, and various types of skin cancer.
To add to these harmful effects, UVA light is virtually inescapable. According to dr. katie rodan. an associate clinical dermatolgist at Stanford University, It's present in the same amount from sunup to sundown, 365 days a year. totally independent of climate conditions. It not only penetrates car windows and T-shirts, but it reaches the skin during fog, rain, and even blizzards.
Most U.S. market sunscreens contain onyl UVB blockers, that the familiar SPF ratings measure. These products help to prevent burning and associated damage to the skin. The types of UVA blockers that have been available for U.S. con-sumption (namely zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and avoben-zone) are not nearly as effective as Mexoryl, and most sunscreens don't contain them. Dermatologists have pro-claimed Mexoryl one of the most effective filters of all wave-lengths of ultraviolet light. To add to this strength, Mexoryl does not decompose when exposed to sunlight like UVB and other UVA filters.
Most U.S. consumers do not know the difference between UVA and UVB reys, and therein lies the problem. People apply sunscreens with UVB blockers and assume that if their skin doesn't burn they are protected. As a result, people spend more time in the sun and more time exposed to harmful UVA rays.Scientists believe that this is one of the primary reasons that skin cancer have tripled between 1980 and 2003.
With Mexoryl's approval, L'Oreal should enjoy a big competitive advantage it's the only company that owns the rights to it. Competitors such as Neutrogena and Johnson have made big improvements to other UVA blockers like Avobenzone. But even with such improvements, none come close to the effectiveness of Mexoryl. As of yes, Mexoryl is only available in two L'Oreal products. Will this new wonder drug catch on and dominate the sunscreen category? Only time will tell.