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Fact checked by Nick Blackmer
- Some ingredients in supplements may protect your skin from UV rays, such as P. leucotomos extract and lycopene.
- Experts say to always apply a topical sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to prevent sun damage.
- Photoprotective supplements may be unsafe for some groups, such as pregnant and breastfeeding people.
Some supplements claim to protect skin from sun exposure. However, experts have warned that they are not a replacement for traditional sunscreen.
What Are Suncreen Pills, Anyway?
Oral sunscreens generally contain a blend of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids (pigments), and polyphenols (plant compounds).
Most of these pills contain the extract of Polypodium leucotomos (P. leucotomos), a type of fern plant native to Central and South America.
In addition to P. leucotomos extract (PLE), Asmi Berry, DO, a dermatologist from Los Angeles, said supplements might include:
- A form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide (to repair UV-related DNA damage)
- The algae ingredient astaxanthin (to help neutralize free radicals)
- Lycopene (to help boost the skin’s natural UV defense)
The products are classified as dietary supplements. This means that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate them.
What Can These Supplements Really Do for You?
Experts caution against replacing traditional sunscreen with these oral alternatives. As Dr. Berry told Health, “You still need to apply your SPF.”
There’s limited research on these supplements, making it hard to determine their effects. According to Dr. Berry, PLE is the most studied ingredient for its sun-protective abilities.
PLE has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can translate into “a UV-protective effect by neutralizing free radicals, which is not seen with topical sunscreens,” Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center, told Health.
In a 2015 study, 20 people took 240 milligrams of P. leucotomos orally twice daily for 60 days. Another 20 took a placebo. The placebo group had a higher risk of additional sunburns compared to those taking PLE.
Like this study, Dr. Berry said, many of the PLE studies involving humans have been small. Others have included only animals or petri dishes.
“More studies need to be done on these products in order to make any real claims regarding sun protection,” said Dr. Hale. “We don’t really have definitive answers as to how much sun protection is really provided with oral photoprotection.”
What is clear, however, is that oral supplements do not offer “sufficient protection against UV radiation to provide a sun protection solution on their own,” said Dr. Hale.
The most concerning aspect of sun-protective supplements is that they give people the false belief that it’s unnecessary to do anything else to avoid sun exposure, said Dr. Berry. Many doctors avoid the term “oral sunscreen” when describing these pills to prevent this.
Be sure to also apply your standard topical sunscreen if you do try a supplement. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends an SPF of at least 30.
What to Consider
It’s best to speak to a dermatologist before trying an oral sunscreen supplement to determine if you might be sensitive to certain ingredients, Rachel Nazarian, MD, an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai in New York City, told Health.
Although the supplements are generally well tolerated, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to ferns, or are taking other medications—particularly immune-modulating ones—may not be good candidates, Dr. Nazarian said.
Also, keep in mind that because the pills have not been approved by the FDA, there’s no guarantee that they work, are safe, or even contain the ingredients that the label suggests.
Above all, experts stressed the importance of using topical sunscreen alongside a photoprotective supplement like PLE. “These pills should be used in conjunction with traditional, topical sunscreens,” said Dr. Nazarian, who noted that she takes a daily PLE supplement and recommends it to her patients.
“Everyone should apply sunscreen every day,” Dr. Hale added, “regardless of what supplements you are taking.”
Read the original article on Health
