Can sunscreen make your skin look younger?
A Comprehensive Systematic Review of The Relationship Between Sunscreen Use and Prevention of Photoaging
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Oral multi-component antioxidants improved skin appearance and sunburn resistance, but beta-carotene alone did nothing.
Beta-carotene has long been marketed as a 'sun protection supplement'—this study shows it’s ineffective, while complex blends work, which contradicts widespread consumer beliefs.
Practical Takeaways
Choose a daily sunscreen that includes antioxidants like vitamin C or bakuchiol, and consider a supplement with multiple antioxidants (not just beta-carotene).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Oral multi-component antioxidants improved skin appearance and sunburn resistance, but beta-carotene alone did nothing.
Beta-carotene has long been marketed as a 'sun protection supplement'—this study shows it’s ineffective, while complex blends work, which contradicts widespread consumer beliefs.
Practical Takeaways
Choose a daily sunscreen that includes antioxidants like vitamin C or bakuchiol, and consider a supplement with multiple antioxidants (not just beta-carotene).
Publication
Journal
The International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research
Year
2026
Authors
Betti Merdiani Putri, Metti Herliani Putri
Related Content
Claims (6)
Putting on sunscreen every day can stop your skin from getting worse from sun damage, and might even help fix some of the wrinkles and spots you already have.
If you put on sunscreen every single day for nearly five years, your skin will show about a quarter fewer wrinkles and sun spots than if you only use it sometimes.
Sunscreen that also has extra ingredients like vitamin C or plant extracts that calm and repair your skin works better at reducing sun damage and wrinkles than sunscreen with just the basic sun-blocking chemicals.
Showing adults pictures of how UV rays damage their skin or using phone apps that track sun exposure can help them feel more motivated to wear sunscreen and avoid too much sun—though the boost isn’t huge.
If you use sunscreen every day for a few months to a year, your skin might look smoother, have fewer dark spots, and show fewer wrinkles over time.