Polypodium leucotomos
Summary
Polypodium leucotomos is a fern extract taken by mouth for sun protection. In 25 healthy adults, 480 mg a day for 30 days raised the UVA dose needed to redden skin by 26% but did not reduce DNA damage (grade D). Results in vitiligo and childhood eczema trials were weak or null.
Key facts
- An extract of the leaves of a Central American fern, taken orally[2]
- 480 mg a day for 30 days raised the UVA dose needed to cause redness by 26%; UV DNA-damage markers did not fall[1]
- 750 mg a day added to light therapy for 25–26 weeks gave more head-and-neck repigmentation, mainly in people who attended most sessions[2]
- The effect on redness was modest and DNA damage was unchanged[1]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedPolypodium leucotomos extract has antioxidant and immunomodulating effects; in people it raised the sunburn threshold without reducing thymidine-dimer DNA damage.[1][2]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical steroid use in childhood eczema | No effect | Grade D | RCT · n = 105 · 2012 Children and adolescents aged 2–17 with moderate atopic dermatitis Form: Polypodium leucotomos extract capsules · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 6 months The share of days needing topical corticosteroids did not fall significantly compared with placebo. | 22560125 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Repigmentation with light therapy | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 50 · 2007 Adults with vitiligo on narrow-band UVB Form: Polypodium leucotomos extract · Dose: 750 mg/day (250 mg three times daily) · Duration: 25–26 weeks Head-and-neck repigmentation was 44% vs 27% with placebo (p = 0.06), and 50% vs 19% among those attending over 80% of sessions; other areas did not differ. | 17659004 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| UVA sunburn threshold and DNA damage | Mixed | Grade D | Open-label trial · n = 25 · 2026 Healthy adults with skin types I–III Form: Polypodium leucotomos extract (Heliocare Advanced) · Dose: 480 mg/day · Duration: 30 days Minimal erythema dose rose 26% from baseline; thymidine dimers in skin and urine did not fall. | 41838346 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 480 mg of extract a day for 30 days to 750 mg a day for 25–26 weeks.[1][2]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Anyone relying on it for sun protection
- It raised the sunburn threshold modestly and did not reduce UV DNA damage.[1]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Polypodium leucotomos
Products from brands we partner with that contain Polypodium leucotomos. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkPolypodium Leucotomos Extract2 capsules: 1,000 mg Polypodium leucotomos 4:1 leaf extract; 45 servings. Above the 480–750 mg a day studied, and a different extract from the branded ones tested.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Polypodium leucotomos stop sunburn?
It raised the UVA dose needed to redden skin by 26% in a 30-day study, but it did not reduce DNA damage and does not replace sunscreen.[1]
Does it help vitiligo?
Added to light therapy, it gave more head-and-neck repigmentation in one 50-person trial, mostly in people who attended their sessions.[2]
Does it help eczema in children?
A 105-child trial found no significant drop in steroid-cream use.[3]
Sources
- [1]Changes in ultraviolet a radiation-induced thymidine dimers and erythema after oral nicotinamide or polypodium leucotomos extract in healthy volunteers: a randomized intraindividual trial.. Photochem Photobiol Sci, 2026. open-label
- [2]Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral Polypodium leucotomos extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2007. RCT
- [3]Polypodium leucotomos extract in atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.. Actas Dermosifiliogr, 2012. RCT
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).