FDA says ‘no pill or capsule can replace your sunscreen’

Federal regulators said there is no such thing as a sunscreen pill and is warning companies to stop marketing them as such.

The Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to several companies saying their products claim to protect against the sun are illegal.

An ingestible product marketed for sun protection would be considered a drug and would require FDA approval.

Doctor Abhinav Chandra, medical director of the Yuma Cancer Center, said he’s quite surprised at how these pills are being advertised to the public. He said they can lead to serious consequences.

“You would be essentially not be protected against the sun. You’re at high risk for melanoma and other skin cancers because of not using appropriate sun protection.”

Experts said pills and supplements simply cannot replace sunscreen.

They said a sunblock with broad-spectrum protection and at least SPF 30 is best.