In India, excessive warmth and recurring heatwaves from March to June pose serious challenges to skin health, resulting in circumstances like sunburn, rashes, and eczema. Throughout these peak summer season months, defending the pores and skin turns into important by way of measures like staying hydrated, making use of sunscreen, sporting protecting clothes, and minimising solar publicity.
Within the quest for solar safety, many flip to oral sunscreens — typically marketed as sunblock options. Nevertheless, main dermatologists emphasise that these dietary supplements, obtainable as gummies, powders, or drinks, don’t perform like topical sunscreens. Not like lotions that bodily or chemically block UV rays, oral solar protecting dietary supplements provide oblique assist and are sometimes misrepresented. Consultants stress the significance of understanding how these merchandise actually work and in search of skilled recommendation earlier than incorporating them into your skincare routine.
What are oral sunscreens ?
In accordance with dermatologists, the time period “oral sunscreen” could be deceptive. Not like topical sunscreens that take in or mirror dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays on the pores and skin’s floor, oral sunscreens don’t present any bodily UV blockade. They perform as a substitute as antioxidants that cut back the oxidative stress and irritation attributable to UV radiation.
“Mainly, these dietary supplements know as oral sunscreens are adjuvant therapies,” says Katheeja Nasika, marketing consultant, division of dermatology, Rela Hospital, Chennai. “They’re by no means a standalone they usually can by no means be an alternative to the chemical sunscreens that we’re utilizing.”
In accordance with Dr. Nasika, these merchandise fall into the class of nutraceuticals — dietary dietary supplements with skin-protective advantages. They assist in decreasing UV-induced DNA injury and pigmentary modifications, by way of their antioxidant properties. Additionally they assist pores and skin well being by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), or free radicals, and should help in decreasing photoaging and pigmentation.
What’s inside solar safety capsules?
Oral sunscreen dietary supplements typically include quite a lot of antioxidant-rich substances geared toward defending the pores and skin from UV injury. Frequent parts embrace Polypodium leucotomos, a fern extract with antioxidant properties; carotenoids like lycopene, beta-carotene, and astaxanthin — amongst which astaxanthin is taken into account extra highly effective than vitamin C; and nutritional vitamins C and E, that are well-known for his or her means to scale back UV-induced injury. Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) can be included for its position in aiding DNA restore, together with Pycnogenol, a pine bark extract excessive in bioflavonoids and phenolic acids.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of those substances relies upon not simply on their presence, however on being consumed in ample, therapeutic doses. As Dr. Nasika factors out, merely labelling a product an “oral sunscreen” doesn’t guarantee photo-protective advantages except it incorporates confirmed antioxidants in correct quantities — akin to 100–1000 mg of vitamin C, not less than 100 IU of vitamin E, 13 mg of beta-carotene (roughly 150 grams of carrot), and 10–30 mg of lycopene, generally present in tomatoes and watermelon. Many of those vitamins will also be obtained by way of a well-balanced food regimen wealthy in fruits, greens, nuts, seeds, and teas.
Why topical sunscreen stays non-negotiable
Vaaruni Ravishankar, marketing consultant, dermatology, MGM Healthcare, reiterates that oral sunscreens usually are not a substitute for topical sunscreen.
Dr. Ravishankar prescribes oral sunscreens in particular situations: for sufferers anticipating extended solar publicity — akin to throughout seaside holidays, mountain treks, or wedding ceremony shoots — and for these in search of beauty advantages like decreased redness and pigmentation. However she cautions in opposition to informal use with out skilled supervision, “These capsules ought to at all times be taken below the supervision or prescription of a board-certified dermatologist,” she emphasises. “By no means as an over-the-counter answer simply because it’s trending on social media.”
She additionally notes that whereas most substances are protected in prescribed doses, allergic reactions are attainable, making it important to seek the advice of a doctor earlier than use.
Ok. R. Sharmatha, senior marketing consultant, Dermatology, SIMS Hospital, Chennai, advises in opposition to utilizing the time period edible sunscreen altogether. “Use the phrase ‘oral sunscreen,’ not ‘edible,’” she insists. “Edible provides a deceptive impression as a result of sunscreens are meant for exterior software, whereas these are dietary supplements taken orally for sun-related oxidative stress.”
One other important concern is how oral sunscreens are marketed for pores and skin lightening or “brightening,” exploiting deeply ingrained cultural norms and social constructs below the guise of solar safety. Many of those merchandise are offered with little transparency round their precise composition, goal, or required dosage. “Simply saying it’s a sunscreen and exhibiting brightening outcomes creates a harmful narrative,” Dr. Nasika says, “Anybody claiming a complement is an oral picture protecting agent must be backing that with science.”
Eat wholesome
“Lots of the antioxidants present in these dietary supplements akin to these current in berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts, carrots, and tomatoes — will also be sourced naturally by way of a balanced food regimen. The rising hype round “edible sunscreens” must be approached with skepticism”, Dr. Nasika says.
Dr. Sharmatha provides that she persistently emphasise to her sufferers that the simplest safety in opposition to solar injury is a broad-spectrum topical sunscreen, utilized generously and reapplied commonly. “Should you’re contemplating including an oral complement for solar safety, it’s vital to seek the advice of a dermatologist quite than counting on advertising and marketing claims”, she says.
Printed – Might 22, 2025 01:15 pm IST
