Tell Patients Not to Rely on Astaxanthin for Sun Protection

You’ll get asked whether astaxanthin supplements are really “sunscreen in a pill”...as patients prepare for more time in the sun.

Astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant that’s structurally similar to beta-carotene. It’s found in certain algae...and gives animals such as salmon, lobster, and flamingos their pink-red color.

Educate that a very small study in Japanese adults shows that taking astaxanthin 4 mg daily for 9 weeks might increase skin tolerance to ultraviolet light versus placebo.