mARCH 4, 2025
From Battlefields to Beach Bags: The WWII Origin of Your Sunscreen
Did you know the sunscreen in your tote has roots in wartime survival? 🎖️ Here’s the untold story of how a Miami chemist turned a soldier’s necessity into a summer staple
In 1942, the Army Air Force began to look for the most effective topical substance that would prevent sunburn and protect the skin of men who were stranded in the desert or on life rafts. Miami chemist and pharmacist Benjamin Green, who had noticed the lack of sun protection for soldiers, created “Red Vet Pet”, a red veterinary petroleum, when he served in the Pacific during World war II. After coming home, Green tweaked the heavy red formula, added cocoa butter and coconut oil, and eventually invented Coppertone suntan lotion!
Though far from perfect, this heavy-duty ointment provided a crucial barrier against the sun. What started as a wartime necessity quickly became a household essential that not only protected soldiers in combat, but also revolutionized sun protection for everyday consumers. Thanks to his work, Coppertone became a staple in beach bags across the country, paving the way for modern sunscreen as we know it today.
