Key takeaways:
Sunscreen pills are oral supplements that aim to offer protection against sun damage. They contain the active ingredient polypodium leucotomos (PL).
Taking a sunscreen pill alone hasn’t been shown to be safe and effective for sun protection.
A thorough sun protection strategy involves a combination of measures. Using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding the sun during peak hours are a few ways.
What if taking a pill was all it took to stay safe from the sun? Sunscreen pills are a new development in sun protection technology. These pills are appealing to many people for their potential to protect skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays without the need for oily creams and sticky sprays.
But how does oral sunscreen work? And can it actually protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays? Let’s find out.
What are sunscreen pills?
Sunscreen tablets contain the active ingredient polypodium leucotomos (PL). This is a type of tropical fern common in Central and South America.
To understand how PL works, it's important to understand how the sun and UV light can damage the skin. Here’s how it happens:
UV light, which is a type of invisible light that radiates from the sun, comes into contact with your skin.
UV rays interact with molecules in the skin. This begins breaking down certain chemical bonds.
Eventually, these chemical bonds break. That creates a byproduct called reactive oxygen species (ROS). One type of ROS is a free radical. Free radicals are molecules that are unstable and very reactive.
Free radicals trigger oxidative stress, which damages DNA and proteins. This damage can cause aging, inflammation, and even skin cancer.
PL works by enhancing the body’s ability to fight against oxidative stress. This, in turn, decreases DNA damage and mutations caused by the sun.
Do sunscreen pills actually prevent sunburn?
There isn’t currently enough research to determine that oral sun protection is effective. So, at this point, it’s best to assume sunscreen pills alone won’t protect you from the sun.
There has been some research on sunscreen pills. In one study, 40 participants took either a supplement containing 240 mg of PL or a placebo (a pill with no PL in it) twice daily. After 60 days, the group taking the PL sunscreen pills had reduced damage from UV radiation.
But keep in mind that this is a small study. And it only included people with certain skin tones. Also, Ferndale Healthcare, a brand that makes a sun protection supplement, funded the research. This doesn’t mean the results are untrue. But it does mean there’s some risk that they could be biased. More studies are needed before any health recommendations can be made.
Know the signs of skin cancer: Learn what different types of skin cancer look like (so you don’t miss it).
Should you be wearing sunscreen daily? Yes. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. There are other benefits too.
Mineral vs. chemical sunscreen: Both types of sunscreen are effective at preventing sunburns, premature aging, and skin cancer caused by UV rays. But there are some differences.
Beth Goldstein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, said there are limitations to studying sunscreen pills. For example, it can be unsafe for participants to just take sunscreen pills or to not use any regular sunscreen, she said.
For this reason, she said, it’s more likely that experts will study pills as a supplement to a typical sun protection program.
Side effects of sunscreen pills
The most concerning side effect of oral sunscreen is that it can give people a false sense of security. A 2018 statement by then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb urged consumers to take caution. “There’s no pill or capsule that can replace your sunscreen,” he said.
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Also, sunscreen pills fall into the category of dietary supplement. The FDA isn’t authorized to regulate dietary supplements before they reach the market. So there would be no way of knowing whether a sunscreen pill has enough active ingredients to be effective.
Aside from the risk of sun damage, there are few known side effects of sunscreen tablets. A 2015 status report said that a very small number of people experienced minor side effects like itching or mild gastrointestinal upset.
But Goldstein stressed that certain groups of people should be particularly cautious with sunscreen pills. These groups include:
Children: A supplement that’s considered safe for adults — including sunscreen pills — may not be OK for kids to take. That’s because children have different responses to medications and supplements, Goldstein said.
People who are pregnant or nursing: There’s no information available on if sunscreen pills are safe or not for this population.
Anyone who has a medical condition: People with existing health issues should always consult with a healthcare professional before taking supplements.
People who take other medications: Supplements can interact with your medications. If you’re considering a supplement, check in first with a healthcare professional.
Those with a history of allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to PL: It’s important to prevent additional reactions by avoiding sunscreen pills.
How to properly protect your skin from sun damage
Over time, sun exposure leads to sun damage. It can also lead to skin cancer. So, protecting your skin from the sun is key. And that means more than oral sunscreen alone. Here’s what experts and dermatologists recommend for thorough sun safety.
Avoid direct sunlight when possible
The sun is at its strongest between the hours of 10AM and 4PM. Stay in the shade or go indoors during peak hours, when possible.
Use protective clothing
Wearing ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing, sunglasses, and hats can protect you from the sun.
Wear sunscreen daily
No matter the season or color of your skin, it’s a good idea to wear sunscreen daily. Different medical organizations have different recommendations for the level of SPF you should use. Two top organizations in the U.S. — American Cancer Society and American Academy of Dermatology — both recommend SPF 30 or higher. And if you’re spending significant time in the sun, you should reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
The bottom line
UV light causes sun damage by disrupting the body’s DNA. This can result in sunburns, signs of aging, and skin cancer. So far, there isn't enough evidence suggesting sunscreen pills work well enough to protect you from the sun. It's best to use more than one method of sun protection. Also, wear sunscreen daily, avoid direct sunlight, and wear protective clothing. Sun protection technology may improve in the future to make it easier to prevent UV damage and skin cancer.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2024). Practice safe sun.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2025). Sunscreen FAQs.
American Cancer Society. (2024). How to use sunscreen.
Berman, B., et al. (2016). Polypodium leucotomos - an overview of basic investigative findings. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Sun safety facts.
Chandimali, N., et al. (2025). Free radicals and their impact on health and antioxidant defenses: A review. Cell Death Discovery.
Cutaneous Melanoma: Etiology and Therapy. (n.d.). Chapter 6, clinical presentation and staging of melanoma: Table 1 Fitzpatrick classification of skin types I through VI. National Center for Biotechnology and Information.
D’Orazio, J., et al. (2013). UV radiation and the skin. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Nestor, M. S., et al. (2015). Safety and efficacy of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in healthy adult subjects. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
Peebles, A. (2018). Health and Science If sunscreen in a pill sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is, FDA says. CNBC.
Reddy, V. P. (2023). Oxidative stress in health and disease. Biomedicines.
Winkelmann, R. R., et al. (2015). Polypodium leucotomos extract: A status report on clinical efficacy and safety. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
