Copyright People’s Pharmacy

Q: My “healthy neighbor in the know” swears that astaxanthin is a better alternative to chemical-laden sunscreens.  What do you think?

A: Astaxanthin is a type of carotenoid derived from marine organisms.  Generally, carotenoids are produced by plants and serve as precursors to vitamin A in animals.  However, astaxanthin is not converted to this vitamin.  It has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulative activity (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, January 2020).  As a result, dietary supplements containing this ingredient have been promoted for skin health.  We were excited to learn that many carotenoids help protect skin from damage (Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, online, May 5, 2021).  According to the scientists, “Oral supplementation with multi-carotene supplements may provide incidental photoprotection with a more uniform coverage over the total body surface area and could potentially help maintain a healthy-looking skin.”  However, they warn that supplements are not a substitute for effective sunscreens but should be used in addition for complementary photoprotection.