Every year, 25,000 tons of sunscreen enters the oceans, and to be honest, it’s a huge problem. Because, on the one hand, we need to use more sunscreen, as doctors and researchers have repeatedly insisted (many Spaniards are dangerously under-protected from the sun’s rays); and on the other hand, the accumulation of some of their ingredients (such as oxybenzone or octylmethoxycinnamate) in marine and freshwater ecosystems is an environmental horror. And of course sanitary: ultraviolet filters are already present in the food chain.

The promise of sunscreen pills. So the arrival of sun protection tablets was great news for many: a way to solve the “square circle” to increase sun protection without disturbing the environment. But the truth is, while pills can help in some cases, it will be impossible to fix the problem (like “squaring the circle”).

What are sun protection tablets?. The short answer is that it is a product that is consumed orally and helps limit the negative effects of the sun on our skin. But to understand what happens to sunscreen pills, it’s necessary to understand how sunscreens work. In general, we can distinguish two main types of creams: those with a physical barrier and those with a chemical barrier.

Physical filters are a kind of “screen” that reflects sunlight. These are heavy creams that are not absorbed and leave the skin white like horchata: they use compounds of solid, insoluble particles (like titanium dioxide or zinc oxides) and act by creating a shield that prevents the sun’s rays from penetrating the skin. . skin. Their main benefit is that they are not absorbed (and are therefore particularly suitable for children aged six months to three years and people with dermatological problems). However, many people ‘run away’ from them because their aesthetic and practicality leave much to be desired.

Chemical filters, on the other hand, use a range of products that absorb sunlight instead of reflecting it. They are creams that are easier to apply and have better aesthetic results; however, they take longer to act, can cause allergies, and tend to have a lower spectrum of protection. Therefore, the usual thing in recent years is to find mixed filters that combine the two types in one formulation: gaining protection without losing (too much) on the aesthetic level. However, with this typology there is enough to understand not only what sunscreen pills are, but also their limitations.

Meaningful logic…. In this sense, we can add sun protection capsules among chemical filters. The rationale behind these products is similar to the rationale behind the differences between a medication for topical use and a medication for oral administration. Likewise, we can use an anti-inflammatory ointment or pill when we encounter a concussion: chemical sun protection can be applied in other ways as well.

…but a very problematic application. The biggest problem we found is that sun pills use the same active ingredient as creams and not in a different way. The vast majority of those marketed in Europe wouldn’t even try. In reality, these are ‘nutritional cosmetics’; that is, food supplements (made from things like beta carotene, vitamins, and natural extracts) that help absorb sunlight and reduce oxidative damage to cells. It is actually a vitamin supplement.

And that’s why we have to understand and use them: as an extra that doesn’t replace creams and doesn’t have great scientific evidence behind it. But the way pills are marketed often leads to misunderstanding. So much so that in 2018 the US FDA had to warn that such pills are useless against possible sun damage and cannot be compared to regular sunscreens.

A dermoprotective dead end?. True yes. The first paradox (that we need more sun protection and at the same time pollution levels are very high) has no easy solution. In many developed countries, dermatological problems increase (and health problems follow) as sun exposure increases and tanning gains social prestige. We must continue to work to find solutions that will allow us to find a middle ground and in the meantime protect ourselves as best we can.

Image | lesulie collins