There's good news on the sunscreen front, with a new product line to help block rays and a pill to help protect your skin from within.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could pop a pill and not worry about damage caused by the sun? A new pill on the market may help to do just that. Heliocare, an oral dietary supplement, is filled with antioxidants that help the skin fight the effects of the sun's UV rays. Polypodium leucotomos extract, from a fern grown in Honduras, is the natural ingredient of the pill. Studies show that it can help fight against the UV photoaging process by maintaining skin structure and boosting the body's immune response. Sound too good to be true? The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported findings that confirm the effectiveness of polypodium leucotomos in protecting the skin against UV radiation. Dr. Heather Roberts, a leading dermatologist from Los Angeles, is excited about Heliocare's potential uses. "Heliocare may help to prevent sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancers resulting from UV radiation (UVA and UVB)," she says. "Further research is needed to confirm these results, so keep using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher." Okay, so you can't simply take this pill and head out for a full day of surfing, but it could be another weapon in your arsenal of sun protection (it bears repeating: you should wear sunscreen, clothing, hats, and sunglasses).
Thankfully, new products out on the market are more effective than ever in fighting skin damage and skin cancer. Neutrogena has introduced a product called Helioplex that contains UVA (Avobenzone) and UVB (Oxybenzone) absorbers that are believed to be more effective than others on the market. The combination blocks UVB rays, which cause sunburn, along with UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin to cause damage and premature aging. This sunscreen covers the broad spectrum recommended by dermatologists, lasts longer than other sunscreen products, and provides more stable coverage. You can find Helioplex in Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55, as well as other Neutrogena products.
Click here to find out about heliocare and click here to get Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock 55. —Rebecca Heller
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