Sun Protection
POMEGRANATE AND SUN PROTECTION
From Anirva. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Pomegranate has drawn research interest for its antioxidant content, including studies that looked at skin cells exposed to UV light. Here's what that research actually shows — and why it's not a substitute for sunscreen.
In this article
Key Takeaways
- UV exposure is a well-documented contributor to premature skin aging and a risk factor for skin cancer.
- Pomegranate contains antioxidant compounds, including ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and hydrolysable tannins, that have been studied in laboratory settings on UV-exposed skin cells.
- This research does not show that eating or applying pomegranate prevents skin cancer, treats sun damage, or replaces sunscreen.
- Sunscreen, protective clothing, and limiting peak-sun exposure remain the proven ways to protect skin.
How the Sun Affects Skin
The sun emits ultraviolet rays in the form of Long Wave Ultraviolet (UVA, roughly 320–400 nm) and Short Wave Ultraviolet (UVB, roughly 290–320 nm) (1). UVA rays can pass through glass and cloud cover and penetrate the dermis, the skin's thickest layer, where they're linked to premature wrinkling, irregular pigmentation, and loss of elasticity (1). UVB rays act on the skin's outer layers and are the main cause of sunburn and skin reddening. UVB exposure is also a well-documented risk factor for skin cancer.
Because of this, daily sunscreen use, protective clothing, and limiting time in peak sun remain the protective measures with the strongest evidence behind them.
What Is Pomegranate?
Pomegranate is a deciduous shrub in the family Lythraceae, native to the region spanning Iran to northern India and now cultivated worldwide. Its fruit contains seeds and a crimson juice that have a long history of culinary and traditional use. In recent years, researchers have studied extracts from the fruit, peel, and seed oil for their antioxidant (polyphenol) content.
Research on Pomegranate's Antioxidant Compounds
Pomegranate is notably high in polyphenols. Laboratory research has looked at whether these antioxidant compounds interact with the oxidative stress and free-radical activity that UV exposure generates in skin cells (2).
One compound of interest is ellagic acid, which has been studied in cell-culture research for a possible role in reducing UV-related damage to keratinocytes, the predominant cell type in the epidermis (2).
Early laboratory research has also examined other pomegranate compounds — anthocyanins and hydrolysable tannins — and their antioxidant activity in skin cells exposed to UV light (3).
Research on Collagen and Skin Aging
Collagen is the skin's main structural protein and plays a central role in its strength and elasticity. Laboratory research has studied whether pomegranate compounds interact with collagen-related processes — including collagen production, keratinocyte activity, and the enzymes that break collagen down — in skin cell models (4).
This research is still at an early, preclinical stage. It does not establish that pomegranate reverses or prevents visible skin aging in people.
What the Research Does Not Yet Show
Research on pomegranate and skin health is ongoing and still developing. As with most botanical compounds, more human clinical research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about its role in skin health. Whether eaten as a fruit or used in topical extracts, pomegranate is a nutrient-dense addition to a diet — but it does not replace sunscreen, and it has not been shown to prevent or treat skin cancer, sunburn, or UV damage in humans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pomegranate prevent skin cancer?
Does pomegranate work as a sunscreen?
Can pomegranate reverse signs of skin aging?
References
- D'Orazio J, et al. UV radiation and the skin. Int J Mol Sci. 2013. PMCID: PMC3709783.
- Ellagic acid and pomegranate extract effects on UV-induced skin cell damage. PMCID: PMC3004287.
- Pomegranate extract, collagen, and keratinocyte activity in skin cell models. PMCID: PMC3569896.
- Anthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, and antioxidant activity in UV-exposed skin cells. PMCID: PMC4052369.