Drinkable Sunscreen May Leave You Feeling Burned
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A new sunscreen product promises no smearing, no goop in your eyes, no hassle or a lingering smell after application.
The drinkable sunscreen called UVO claims to protect skin from the sun's harmful rays from the inside out. The company claims one 12-ounce bottle can protect skin up to five hours.
UC Davis skin expert Emanual Maverakis says the drinkable sunscreen is a great idea in theory, but could deliver a burn to both your skin and your wallet if you're not careful.
UVO's website says preliminary trials showed it took 40 percent more sun exposure to create a sunburn after people drank UVO.
But dermatologist Maverakis says those trials promote more hype than science.
"There is no SPF rating for these products," he said. "If you were to rate them they would probably have an SPF of less than two. So they're not providing much sun protection."
While it's not recommended for children under the age of 6, it's had vitamins like lycopene, biotin and Vitamin D—something Tiffany Hazelhurst says could fit nicely into her family's vegan lifestyle.
"If I read the ingredient list and there were no chemicals in it, we would look into it, absolutely. But that's what we do with everything," she said.
The 12-ounce bottle that runs about $5 is considered a dietary supplement and is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
"I would say the same thing that the Academy of Dermatology says, and that is that oral supplements are not a replacement for your topical sunscreens," Maverakis said.
He does point out that there isn't anything dangerous about drinkable sunscreens because they are vitamin-based, but he recommends talking to your dermatologist before you try it.