Mexoryl is a sunscreen ingredient that provides better protection against UVA and UVB rays. It is available in sunscreens sold in Europe, Canada, and other countries but is limited in the US. Mexoryl works by turning ultraviolet radiation into heat and is photostable. It is a combination of ecamsule and drometrizole trisiloxane, which can create sunscreens with high SPF. L’Oreal® owns the patents on both chemicals. The FDA bans the sale of sunscreens containing drometrizole trisiloxane and only allows the sale of ecamsula in limited circumstances.
Mexoryl is the trade name of two ingredients present in some sunscreens sold by the L’Oreal® company. Mexoryl SX, also known as ecamsule, is said to provide better protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) rays than most other sunscreens on the market. Mexoryl XL, also known as drometrizole trisiloxane, provides excellent protection against UVA and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Mexoryl can be found in sunscreens sold in Europe, Canada and other countries, but is only available on a limited basis in the United States.
Sunscreens work by blocking radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum, light with a wavelength shorter than visible light. Of the ultraviolet light that enters the atmosphere to reach the earth’s surface, most are classified as UVA or UVB. UVA rays are believed to cause wrinkles and may have other health effects, including cancer. UVB rays are believed to cause sunburn and skin cancer.
Most commercial sunscreens are effective at blocking UVB rays, but considerably less effective at blocking UVA rays. Mexoryl sunscreens are known to fill this gap. Sunscreens containing ecamsule are said to block shortwave UVA rays better to provide more effective UVA blocking and protection against the long-term effects of the sun. Additionally, Mexoryl is photostable, meaning it does not break down in sunlight as many other active sunscreen ingredients are known to do. It works by turning ultraviolet radiation into heat which also helps protect against sun damage.
Ecamsule is an organic compound with the formula C28H34O8S2. By itself, it does not block the entire ultraviolet spectrum and therefore must be combined with another sunscreen to provide complete protection. Drometrizole trisiloxane is an organic compound with the formula C24H39N3O3Si3. The two are often combined together to provide strong, all-around sun protection. They can be used to create sunscreens with very high sun protection factors (SPF), such as SPF 60.
L’Oreal® owns the patents on both chemicals and all sunscreens containing Mexoryl are sold by L’Oreal® or one of its subsidiaries. These include the Anthelios line, sold under the La Roche-Posay® label, and Ombrelle by L’Oreal®.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bans the sale of sunscreens containing drometrizole trisiloxane and, as of 2006, has allowed the sale of ecamsula only in limited circumstances afterward. Ecamsule itself is not approved for sale, but some sunscreens that contain it as an ingredient are. The FDA has not clearly stated its reasons for banning the sale of Mexoryl. The compounds do not penetrate the skin and are therefore widely believed to be safe.
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