The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday expanded its list of allowed sunscreen ingredients to include the chemical compound bemotrizinol. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. The change has been eagerly anticipated for years: Bemotrizinol has long been popular in Europe, Australia and some Asian countries. It also marks the first time in more than 20 years the FDA has permitted a new compound onto its sunscreen ingredient list. Why the excitement? Bemotrizinol is a UV light filter, meaning it blocks out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. To be most effective, these filters need to be broad-spectrum, meaning they block UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays cause aging and wrinkles, while UVB rays cause sunburn, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Both contribute to skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. UV filters come in two formats: mineral or chemical. The mineral sunscreens — which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide — block both UVA and UVB rays but often leave a white …