Are Sunscreen Pills Legitimate? We Asked an Expert

Companies selling sunscreen pills claim they protect from UV rays — an expert says they don’t.

Ensuring you’re protected from the sun’s harmful rays is an integral part of staying safe and healthy during the summer and all year round, and that requires using the right products.

But doing so isn’t always easy when there are products making misleading claims about their ability to safeguard you from the sun.

Companies selling “sunscreen pills” fall into that category, according to Robert Den, M.D., a radiation oncologist and the chief medical officer at Alpha Tau Medical.

Sold as dietary supplements, sunscreen pills claim to provide the same protection as sunscreen despite any evidence of their ability to do so.

“Sunscreen pills are reported to help prevent the development of skin cancer from sun exposure,” Den tells Healthnews. “They are mistakenly believed to provide the same ultraviolet radiation protection as sunscreen and can be used in lieu of it.”

Sunscreen pills aren’t new on the market. In 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against using sunscreen pills for sun protection, emphasizing that they do not prevent skin cancer.

“We’ve found products purporting to provide protection from the sun that aren’t delivering the advertised benefits,” the FDA wrote. “Instead they’re misleading consumers, and putting people at risk.”

The FDA sent warning letters to companies that were illegally marketing pills and capsules labeled as dietary supplements that make unproven drug claims about protecting consumers from the harms that come from sun exposure without meeting the FDA’s standards for safety and effectiveness.

And yet, six years later, sunscreen pills are still available for purchase.

All the while, skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the U.S., having affected over 5.3 million people this year alone.

Skin cancer occurs when UV rays damage the cells, break DNA, and potentially lead to the development of cancer cells, Den explains.

“If you go out in the sun for an extended period, you are at an increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma,” he says. “If you rely on these pills for sun protection, you may expose yourself to harmful effects without adequate protection from carcinogens.”

Instead, he says regular sunscreen is generally more effective because it is applied directly to the skin, where protection is needed. This targeted application ensures the skin receives protection from harmful UV rays. Broad spectrum sunscreen specifically protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

“Like anything in medicine and life, people must rely on trustworthy sources to evaluate any treatment or preventive measures,” he says. This, he explains, is the best way to understand whether it is beneficial, safe, and appropriate.

Plus, failing to do so can lead to potentially harmful consequences. In this case, Den says sunscreen pills, whose efficacy is at best questionable and at worst ineffective, can have financial costs and potential health risks.

“It is crucial to be meticulous when considering any preventative methods,” he says. “Always consult a healthcare provider or trusted medical professional to make informed decisions and ensure that you use the best health options.”