By Dr. Edit Olasz Harken, MD, PhD
Founder, Harken Derm

As a dermatologist, I spend much of my professional life talking with patients about something that is both incredibly common and incredibly important: ultraviolet radiation and its cumulative effects on the skin.

We know that UV exposure contributes to premature skin aging, DNA damage, actinic damage, and skin cancer. We also know that no single approach to photo protection is perfect. Sunscreen is essential, but so are protective clothing, hats, shade, and thoughtful management of cumulative sun exposure.

That is why I am particularly interested when new clinical research begins to show how we might support the skin's own defenses from within.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology adds an important piece to that conversation: nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, was associated with a 25% reduction in melanoma incidence overall. The researchers also found a significant reduction in invasive melanoma among those exposed to nicotinamide.

These findings do not mean that taking nicotinamide can prevent melanoma, and they do not change the fundamental importance of conventional sun protection. But they add to a growing body of research suggesting that supporting the body's natural response to UV stress may be an important area of dermatologic research.

Why is nicotinamide interesting to dermatologists?

Nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3 involved in cellular energy metabolism and the maintenance of NAD+. Its a molecule that cells rely on for numerous critical functions.

UV radiation places significant stress on skin cells. Among other effects, UV exposure can deplete cellular energy reserves and contribute to DNA damage.

Nicotinamide has attracted a lot interest because of its role in supporting cellular energy availability and DNA repair processes following UV exposure.

This isn't a new idea. Previous clinical research has shown that oral nicotinamide can reduce the incidence of certain non-melanoma skin cancers in people at high risk. The new melanoma findings are particularly interesting because melanoma is biologically different from basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

For me, the significance is not that we suddenly have a "melanoma pill." We don't.

Rather, the significance is that we are learning more about how systemic support may interact with the skin's response to UV exposure.

What about Polypodium leucotomos?

Nicotinamide is not the only ingredient that has attracted my attention as a dermatologist.

Polypodium leucotomos, a fern-derived botanical extract, has been studied for decades for its potential photoprotective properties. Research has suggested antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as an ability to modulate some of the biological responses associated with UV exposure.

More recently, a 2026 randomized clinical trial evaluated oral Polypodium leucotomos in healthy volunteers exposed to UVA radiation. After 30 days of supplementation, participants experienced a 26% increase in the minimal erythema dose, meaning a greater amount of UVA exposure was required to produce the same measurable degree of skin redness.

The researchers did not, however, observe a significant reduction in UVA-induced thymidine-dimer formation, an indicator of DNA damage. That is an important limitation—and exactly why I believe we need to interpret these findings thoughtfully rather than sensationally.

Science is rarely about one study proving everything. It is about building evidence over time.

Why we included both in SunPro+

When we developed SunPro+ Skin & Eye Supplement, I wanted to take a broader approach to photoprotection.

Our goal was never to create a substitute for sunscreen. Instead, we wanted to develop a supplement that could provide systemic nutritional support for people who spend significant amounts of time outdoors.

That is why SunPro+ includes both nicotinamide and Polypodium leucotomos, along with lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper, and vitamin E.

The concept is straightforward: topical sunscreen helps protect the surface of the skin from UV radiation, while nutritional support can address some of the body's internal antioxidant and cellular defense pathways.

I think of this as a layered approach to photoprotection.

Protect the surface. Support the system. Reduce cumulative exposure.

For someone who spends hours sailing, hiking, running, cycling, fishing, skiing, or simply working outdoors, these layers can be particularly important.

What this research does, and does not, tell us

As a dermatologist, I believe it is important to distinguish between promising science and established clinical recommendations.

The new melanoma study provides an important association between nicotinamide exposure and lower melanoma incidence. It does not establish that nicotinamide alone prevents melanoma, nor does it establish that every person should take nicotinamide for melanoma prevention.

Likewise, research on Polypodium leucotomos is promising, but it remains an adjunctive area of photoprotection research rather than a replacement for proven sun-protective behaviors. Recent human studies have demonstrated changes in UV-induced erythema, while some DNA-damage endpoints have not shown significant improvement.

That distinction matters.

SunPro+ is not sunscreen in a capsule.

No supplement can replace broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, sunglasses, hats, shade, or regular skin examinations.

Instead, I see systemic photo protection as another potential layer in a comprehensive strategy. It's particularly important for people whose lifestyles involve substantial and repeated UV exposure.

Why this matters for people who live outdoors

For sailors and outdoor athletes, UV exposure isn't an occasional event.

It is part of the lifestyle.

Water can increase the amount of UV radiation reaching the skin, and long days outdoors can result in substantial cumulative exposure. Many outdoor athletes also spend years training and competing outside.

As a dermatologist, I don't want people to stop doing the activities they love.

I want them to understand the exposure and protect themselves intelligently.

That means applying and reapplying sunscreen appropriately, wearing protective clothing and eyewear, seeking shade when possible, and paying attention to cumulative exposure. It also means continuing to investigate ways that nutrition and systemic support may help the skin respond to environmental stress.

This is the thinking behind SunPro+.

We developed it because photo protection shouldn't stop at the surface of the skin.

And as new research emerges, we will continue to follow the science closely.

Protect your skin. Protect your health. And keep doing what you love outdoors.

— Dr. Edit Olasz Harken, MD, PhD
Founder, Harken Derm