In the search for all-around sun protection, the beauty and health sectors have been looking for more than regular topical sunblocks. One such advancement is the coming of edible sunscreens, or supplements that are taken orally to beef up protection for the UV rays. Whereas water-resistant physical and chemical sunblocks with SPFs continue to be popular, there is a growing awareness of oral sunscreens as an adjunct to protect the skin against the harms of UV radiation. What are these oral sunscreens, what is the science behind them, the benefits of such sun protection, and how can we use them?
Understanding Oral Sunscreens
Oral sunscreens are special nutrients, which are ingested and which contain compounds deemed to protect the skin against the effects of UV radiation. Whereas topical sunscreens simply establish a barrier at the time of applying the lotion or gel or even in chemical terms at the surface of the skin, oral sunscreens operate from within the body thereby enhancing the body’s defense mechanism against UV manipulation.
Key Ingredients in Oral Sunscreens:
- Polypodium Leucotomos Extract (PLE): A component of oral sunscreens, PLE is an extract from a tropical fern plant and one of the most researched ingredients in its line of production. It is credited for its antioxidant activity which fights skin cells affected by UV radiation as well as decreases inflammation.
- Astaxanthin: A colorful pigment in algae and seafood, astaxanthin is considered to afford skin extra photocopy by attacking free radicals.
- Beta-carotene: This has been known to minimize the skin’s sensitivity to UV light and may be used to prevent sunburn from occurring.
- Vitamin C and Vitamin E: Both these vitamins act in concert to up-regulate the antioxidant status of the skin and reduce the oxidative damage by UV radiation.
Benefits of Oral Sunscreens
While oral sunscreens should not replace topical sunscreens, they offer several benefits that make them a valuable addition to your sun protection regimen:
- Enhanced UV Protection: Probably, oral sunscreens can complement topical approaches as they actively contribute to the preservation of skin barrier function and help against UV radiation in regions not reached, or poorly covered, by topical sun protectants.
- Protection Beyond the Surface: Some speak of oral sunscreens as the ones that protect the interior of the body, giving equal coverage all over the body, and even in parts difficult to apply the sunscreen such as the head and the eyes.
- Convenience: Using an oral supplement is therefore an easy method of enhancing your sun protection particularly when swimming or engaging in sporting activities which makes it hard to apply the topical sunscreen lotion.
- Anti-Aging Benefits: Thus, they said that oral sunscreens may play a role in anti-aging because they help to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation that results from UV radiation exposure.
How to Incorporate Oral Sunscreens into Your Routine
It, therefore, helps to approach oral sunscreens not as a complete solution to defending ourselves against the sun’s rays but as an addition to the topical sunscreens we are already familiar with. Here are some tips:
- Continue Using Topical Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of not less than SPF 30 on all the parts of the body that can be exposed to the sun even when you are taking sunscreens orally.
- Choose the Right Supplement: The market offers several oral sunscreens that contain materials that are proven effective under research, for example, Polypodium Leucotomos Extract, astaxanthin, and beta-carotene.
- Start Early: Take oral sunscreens at least three weeks before exposure to the sun because it may take that much time for the components of the oral sunscreen to show their optimum effects.
- Combine with Other Protective Measures: The informational recommendations when it comes to preventing UV harm include; avoiding cotton on your skin, putting on protective garments, caps, and shades, and if you are outside, do so during evening times when the sun is not so strong.
- Consult a Healthcare Professional: ANY change in diet and supplement intake should first be discussed with one’s physician; this applies to oral sunscreens as well particularly if one is taking medication or has a chronic ailment.
FAQs
Can oral sunscreens be a substitute for the conventional chemical block?
No, oral sunscreens are meant to work hand in hand with topical sunscreens or even better than topical sunscreens. The recommendation is to keep using the broad-spectrum topical sunscreens to cover all the areas of the skin.
Which population group should avoid oral sunscreens?
Specifically, sunscreens taken orally are not severe for the majority of the population; however, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking any new supplement, more so if you have some other medical conditions.
What is the time it takes for oral sunscreens to be effective?
Oral sunscreens have to be replenished over several weeks due to the skin barrier so it is recommended to start taking them several weeks in advance.
Do mouth rinses work to reduce sunburn?
Oral sunscreens can prevent sunburn by increasing the skin’s photoprotective response, however, they should be only used in combination with topical sunscreens.
Conclusion
Apricot sunscreens are a special approach to sun protection that can be used as a useful addition to traditional topical sunscreens. They operate within the skin tissues to improve their ability to protect against adverse impacts of UV radiation considering that they do not directly combat UV radiation. Thus, contemplating their use for the protection against sunburn, early skin aging, as well as, accumulated long-term skin injury, oral sunscreens can be deemed important additions to the general utilization of sun protective measures.