Ever wonder what you can do immediately after extended sun exposure or sunburn to reduce the damaging effects on your skin? Research continues to build that Vitamin D may play a therapeutic role in treating this damaging sun exposure!
McGrath and Lu recently published an article in the British Journal of Dermatology highlighting that a single high-dose of Vitamin D3 (100-200k) shortly after sun exposure can significantly reduce inflammation within the skin.
The authors cite a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 20 patients who received 50-200k unites of vitamind D3 1 h after exposure to ultraviolet-b light therapy. Subjects who took the vitamin D3 demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokine/cell expression, including TNF-a.
Another supplement, Polypodium Leucotomos, most famously sold under the Heliocare brand, works as a photo-protective antioxidant most commonly used as a preventative ‘internal sunscreen.’ The supplement is fast-acting, natural, safe, and effective, with literature demonstrating a decrease in cellular DNA damage, pro-inflammatory molecules, and overt clinical damage. As such, this fern extract may also play an important role in sunburn therapy.
To summarize:
- High-dose Vitamin D has shown to be protective post-sunburn in reducing cellular and clinical evidence of damage.
- Polypodium Leucotomos, a natural fern extract, is a well-known preventive sun-exposure option and may also play a role shortly after prolonged sun exposure in reducing inflammation and skin damage.
As always, speak with your dermatologist regarding safe use of these supplements.
Citations:
https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article/192/2/181/7756515
https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(17)31558-0/fulltext
Zehn Skin and Health 
Leave a comment