Buzz
Sunscreen has its drawbacks: it can feel oily, requires frequent reapplication, and sometimes, misleading claims attempt to make it seem hazardous. (It’s not.) However, the undeniable benefit is that it genuinely works as sunscreen. Pills and homemade coconut oil concoctions simply don’t measure up.
The FDA recently declared it is taking action against companies promoting supplements with alleged sunscreen benefits. These products, often labeled as Sunsafe Rx, claim to offer sun protection in pill form. Let’s be unequivocal: sunscreen cannot be ingested as a pill, and no supplement can protect against sunburn or skin cancer, regardless of marketing claims.
Despite misleading online claims, here are several items that do not qualify as sunscreen:
A “strict paleo diet”
Sesame oil
Coconut oil
Chicken oil
DIY blends of oils, beeswax, and zinc oxide powder
Diaper rash cream (Yes, it contains zinc oxide, but that alone doesn’t make it a reliable sunscreen!)
This “no sunburn slushie” made with carrots
Any of the items that appear when you search for “sunscreen pills” on google
Until science develops a miraculous sunscreen pill, the best ways to shield yourself from sunburns and skin cancer remain using genuine sunscreen, along with proven methods like wearing hats, protective clothing, and staying indoors with air conditioning.
