Sunscreen has long been touted as the best prevention against skin damage from sun exposure. For decades, dermatologists and public health experts have promoted its daily use to protect against premature aging, sunburn, and the risk of skin cancer caused by harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, scientists are now beginning to question whether sunscreen alone is sufficient for comprehensive sun protection. According to Stuart Henderson of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA), “sunscreen is not a suit of armor: it should be used in combination with some other protection measures”.
Why Is Sunscreen Not Enough?
As dermatological science advances, we are starting to understand the weaknesses of sunscreen. Many of these weaknesses are often overlooked or brushed aside. Here’s why sunscreen is not as bulletproof as previously believed:
Sunscreen Doesn’t Block All UV Rays
Unless a sunscreen is rated as “full spectrum”, there is no guarantee of UVA defense. Most sunscreens are designed to block UVB rays, which cause sunburn. However, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, accelerating wrinkles, sagging, and long-term aging—even when you don’t burn.
Learn more about the different types of UV rays and their impact on aging here: Photoaging: A Silent Enemy – 360 Sun Shield
Free Radicals Keep Damaging Skin After Sun Exposure
Cellular damage doesn’t stop when you step inside the first layer of your skin. UV rays generate free radicals—unstable molecules that continue to damage skin cells and break down collagen long after sun exposure ends, leading to premature aging, and weakened skin structure.
Sunscreen Focuses on Surface-Level Protection
Sunscreen often leaves deeper layers of skin remain vulnerable. Most sunscreens form a barrier on the outermost layer of your skin. This leaves the deeper dermal layers unprotected, where much of the long-term damage from UVA and free radicals occurs.
Sunscreen Rubs Off Easily
Sweat, water, or physical activity can compromise coverage. Sunscreen is only effective when it stays on your skin. Swimming, sweating, or even putting on clothes can remove or dilute its coverage—leaving your skin exposed without you realizing it.
Sunscreen Doesn’t Repair Existing Damage
Sunscreen is preventative but lacks the ability to heal. It has no ability to reverse or repair past harm. Once UV damage is done, additional steps—like antioxidants or reparative skincare—are needed to support recovery.
How do Sun Protection Supplements Overcome the Limitations of Sunscreen?
Sun protection supplements help address the limitations of sunscreen. When properly formulated, they can offer both protective and restorative benefits that topical sunscreen alone cannot provide. Here’s what the science says:
Sun Protection Supplements Can Block UVA Rays
Sun protection supplements protect against UVA rays, which accelerate skin aging. In a scientific study from the British Journal of Dermatology, volunteers were irradiated with full spectrum UV radiation, including UVA. Those who consumed lycopene before irradiation showed superior resistance to the effects of UVA radiation and suffered less skin damage.
Sun Protection Supplements Can Block Skin Damage From Free Radicals
Free radicals continue to damage your skin even after you are already sunburnt. A sun protection supplement with antioxidants such as copper, astaxanthin, beta carotene, vitamin C, or vitamin E will help neutralize free radicals, preventing residual damage from sun exposure.
Sun Protection Supplements Protect Deeper Layers of Your Skin
Sun protection supplements contain ingredients that are absorbed by the bloodstream and circulated into the deeper layers of the skin. The dermis, or inner layers of the skin, are rich with blood vessels that carry nutrients and compounds that nourish, sustain, and regenerate. A quality supplement will be readily absorbed into the bloodstream and efficiently delivered to skin tissues, ensuring that its active ingredients reach the dermis to provide targeted protection.
Sun Protection Supplements Don’t Rub Off
Unlike sunscreen, which can wash away or lose effectiveness when you sweat, swim, or simply move around, sun protection supplements work from the inside out. They’re absorbed into your bloodstream and delivered to the deeper layers of your skin, providing continuous protection no matter how much fun you’re having in the sun.
Sun Protection Supplements Repair Existing Damage
Sun protection supplements don’t just help prevent future sun damage—they also support your skin in repairing damage that’s already been done. Ingredients like vitamins C and E work at a cellular level to reduce oxidative stress, promote collagen production, and stimulate the skin’s natural repair processes.
360 Sun Shield: The Best Sun Protection Supplement
360 Sun Shield is a groundbreaking sun protection supplement backed by science. Its ingredients were carefully selected to overcome the limitations of sunscreen. Here is a breakdown of why our scientists picked each ingredient in its formulation.
1. Polypodium Leucotomos (240mg per capsule)
This extract comes from ferns found in Central America. Studies from the NIH link the fern to reducing the inflammatory effects of sun exposure and shielding the skin from UV damage.
2. Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is incredibly effective at fighting free radicals, helping protect your skin from sun damage beyond the surface level. Produced by microalgae, studies have shown that astaxanthin prevents apoptosis, or cell death, from sun exposure.
3. Vitamin C
Our formulation contains Vitamin C that is easily absorbed by your body, unlike topical creams that wash off with sweat and exercise. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that also synthesizes collagen, which is essential for maintaining the structural health of your skin.
4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps protect your skin’s barrier and maintain optimal hydration levels. Your skin is approximately 64% water—and Vitamin E plays a crucial role in preserving that moisture balance.
It reinforces the skin’s lipid barrier, reducing water loss and shielding against environmental damage. By doing so, it prevents dryness, irritation, and inflammation, helping your skin stay smooth and resilient.
5. Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin guards the skin from peeling after sun exposure. It strengthens the outer layers of the skin, providing protection from unsightly, visible sunburn.
6. Beta-Carotene
Your body turns beta-carotene into Vitamin A. Found in foods like carrots, squash, and pumpkin, beta-carotene has antioxidant effects and may offer some protection from sunlight and UV redness.
7. Copper
Copper is key for making collagen and elastin, which keeps your skin firm and bouncy. It also supports the development of blood vessels and helps transport oxygen and nutrients to the skin, enhancing its overall health and vibrancy.
Learn more about essential nutrients for anti-aging and sun defense here: 6 Essential Nutrients for Sun Protection: Vitamins and Natural Extracts
Invest In Your Skin Health Today
Every day, your skin is under attack by UV rays that compromise your youthful appearance and long-term health.
That’s why 360 Sun Shield makes protection simple and effective: just two capsules a day. While individual results vary, many users report brighter, more resilient skin in as little as 60 days.
Our supplement is proudly manufactured in a CGMP-certified, FDA-registered facility, ensuring exceptional quality and safety.
But don’t wait until damage shows. Your skin needs this shield now.