Sunscreen taken as a supplement may be at least as effective as external, topical products. Anecdotal evidence – and public and private research – agree and various products are now available.

Skin damage caused by free radicals has now been shown to be counteracted by non-prescription skin protection pills with names like Sun Assure and Heliocare. The natural red pigment astaxanthin appears to be key: products which integrate this ingredient show promising results toward protection against the damaging effects of free radical caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sunscreen products exist exclusively to fight against skin cancer, the United States’ most common form of cancer. In that country, more than 61,000 people were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin in 2010 and over 9,000 died from them. About two-thirds of those afflicted were men.

Light from the sun can trigger cancer, but it also can help keep it away: in addition to promoting the production of free radicals, ultraviolet light can also cause the skin to produce vitamin D, which research suggests may be essential for cancer prevention.

Esther John, an epidemiologist with Union City, California’s Northern California Cancer Center, said that between 10 and 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure each day should be enough to help produce the necessary amount of vitamin D. In a similar investigation, Dr. John showed an association between exposure to the sun and reduced breast cancer risk.

Some point out that 15 minutes of sunlight exposure each day is unnaturally low. Consumers, however, are no longer stuck between a rock and a hard place. Taken orally, pure astaxanthin has been shown as effective against the cellular damages of sunburn. An antioxidant carotenoid, astaxanthin is derived from a microalgae, doing its apparent magic because astaxanthin is the very product created by the plant to protect itself. From inception, tt is a naturally-created sunscreen. Unlke other natural products, which are used to temper the effects of sun exposure after the fact of exposure, astaxanthin works proactively, effectively as an internally-dosed sunscreen.

An open question remains as to the efficacy of traditional sunblock products. A study by the United States non-profit group Consumer Reports examined 20 topical sunscreens, reporting that only two such products provided the Sun Protection Factor their manufacturers had promised.

Some scientists see topical sunscreen as creating more damage than they block. Marianne Berwick, an epidemiologist at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, not only does not see any relationship between skin protection lotions and lower rates of melanoma, her research suggests they can actually increase cancer risk.

On the other hand, Rebecca Tung, M.D., the Director of Dermatology at Loyola University Medical Center, says that oral skin protection supplements work only when used together with traditional sunscreens. She cautions that they should not be thought of as a substitute for traditional sunblocks. The effectiveness of such products can vary for each person, she said.

Carotenoid compounds such as astaxanthin are what are responsible for the brilliant colors of fruits, flowers and vegetables. While carotenoids function as an important part of the photosynthetic process, they also protect organisms from oxygen- or light-caused damage.

Directly before a four-hour hike under Arizona’s famously bright sun mid-day sun, a reporter was supplied by Dr. Anne Marie Fine with a liquid herbal compound containing, among other things, astaxanthin. No traditional sunscreens were used. Although the ultraviolet radiation felt strong that day, not a hint of sunburn was felt or visible. It is noted that Dr. Fine’s creation was a product of her personal laboratory and is not currently available commercially. Despite this experience, some researchers insist that internal sunscreens are effective only after dosings of 1 – 2 weeks.