BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhuanet)-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a L'Oreal sunscreen called Anthelios SX for the prevention of sunburn by blocking both ultraviolet A and B (UVB) rays.

    The new product protects against a broader range of the sun's UVA rays, which can penetrate the skin's lower layer or dermis, medai reports said Tuesday.

    Experts believe UVA plays a bigger role in skin cancers and wrinkles.

    UVB rays from the sun damage only the skin's outer layer, the epidermis.

    Most other products in the American market protect only against UVB, which is most commonly associated with sunburn.

    Anthelios SX contains a mix of three active ingredients, one of which is ecamsule.

    Ecamsule has not been marketed in the United States, but it's been marketed in Europe and Canada as Mexoryl SX since 1993.

    The new sunscreen's two other active ingredients are avobenzone and octocrylene.

    Those ingredients are "generally recognized as safe and effective," says an FDA news release.

    "We are pleased that the FDA has approved L'Oreal USA's use of Mexoryl SX in a new sunscreen formula. We now have the tools to give US consumers very high UVA protection as well as broad-spectrum sun protection," said Alan Meyers, senior vice president of research and development at L'Oreal USA, the American arm of the French cosmetics group.

    While sunscreens are an important part of total sun protection strategy, the FDA still recommends that consumers also protect themselves by limiting time in the sun and wearing protective clothing. Enditem