Sunscreen pill warnings were issued recently by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, stating that the products are not delivering on promises and putting users at risk for skin cancer.
The FDA released a statement from commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb in May warning that such products are not giving users the protection they claimed, pointedly targeting companies like Sunsafe Rx, Advance Skin Brightening Formula and others.
According to Women's Health magazine, Sunsafe Rx claimed that "just one capsule per day provides natural, healthy, anti-aging protection from UV rays" on its website while others like Sunergetic claimed that its pill helped "protect the skin against adverse effects of sun exposure."
"These companies — marketing products called Advance Skin Brightening Formula, Sunsafe Rx, Solaricare, ad Sunergetic — are putting people's health at risk by giving consumers a false sense of security that a dietary supplement could prevent sunburn, reduce early skin aging caused by the sun, or protect from the risks of skin cancer," Gottlieb said in the FDA statement.
"These companies were instructed to correct all violations associated with their products and were advised to review product websites and product labeling to ensure that the claims they are making don't violate federal law. Consumers should be watchful for unscrupulous companies making unproven claims," he continued.
Washington, D.C.-area dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi told "Today" that the pills are ineffective in protecting people from harmful sun rays.
"As a dermatologist, I'm concerned because people using these pills have a false sense of security," Tanzi told the "Today" show in a report that aired Thursday.
The "Today" show reported that some of the companies warned by the FDA, were still selling the pills. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer told the television show that he did not believe the FDA was doing enough.
"If (the FDA) are saying these pills are ineffective, and people take them thinking that they're protecting themselves so they don't use block or screen, why don't they abolish them?" Schumer argued in his comments to "Today." "They should just not let them be on the market. That's what the FDA should do right now."
Women's Health wrote, though, that supplements are a largely unregulated industry and while the FDA can issue warnings, the companies don't have to have FDA approval before selling their pills and tablets like drug makers do.
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