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Ed Yeates ReportingIn a few weeks, a pill will be out on the market, one you can swallow that supposedly will protect your skin from the sun. So, what's in it and will it work?
It sounds ideal -- basking in the warm summer sun, soaking in the rays, but knowing that morning you took your "sun" pill. That's exactly what the product's called. On a cellular level, its maker claims the recipe of vitamins A,C,D and E, antioxidants, and natural herbs like green tea, plant extracts, Pomegranate and Aloe will neutralize free radicals which form in the skin from prolonged exposure to the sun.
Derek Jones, M.D., Dermatologist, U.C.L.A.: "The concept of taking a pill to protect the skin from the inside out is a very new concept and sort of the future of sun health."
That's what Derek Jones at UCLA believes. But not all his colleagues agree this pill is that future.
Laurence Meyers, PhD., M.D., Dermatology Researcher: "There's no basis for saying eating this specific pill or eating any more of any one antioxidant will actually help prevent skin cancer."
Dr. Laurence Meyers, who is Director of Research at Salt Lake's George E. Wallin Veterans Hospital, says the V.A. is now experimenting with a derivative of vitamin A as a topical application to prevent skin cancer.
Dr. Meyers: "There's an enzyme which you can put on from a bacteria to prevent skin cancer in high risk people."
Sun Pill's maker says its product should be used along with sunscreens, claiming the pill actually boosts the efficiency of topical lotions. But still, pill or no pill, dermatologists say the old fashioned way is still the best. A wide brimmed hat, long sleeved shirts and sunscreen.
Dr. Meyers says it always sounds so easy to just take a pill, and it's NOT!
Dermatology researchers say the sun pill is an herbal product and currently does not have double blind scientific studies to back it up.
