Heliocare (also known as "Sun Vitamins") is a sun protection dietary supplement proven in clinical studies to be an inhibitor of UVB.

Classification:
 

Dietary Supplement

Purpose:
 

The first oral photoprotectant with not only clinically but also microscopically proven action against UV-induced damage

Ingredients:
 

Polypodium Leucotomas Extract 240mg, Corn starch, gelatin, Magnesium stearate, Colouring in gelatin capsules: Titanium Dioxide (E-171), Orange Yellow S/Sunset yellow FCF (E-110)

General:
 

It is well known that sun exposure causes premature aging (wrinkles or fines lines) and hyperpigmentation (brown spots or age spots) In fact, we actually log most of the sun damage in our everyday life - just by walking to work, driving the car or just running errands out in the open. Excessive exposure raises the risk of skin cancer, which according to the World Health Organisation, is the most common cancer among humans and has increased in recent years.

THE ABCs OF ULTRAVIOLET RAYS UVA, UVB and UVC are different types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that are given off by the sun. UVC is absorbed by the earth's ozone layer and rarely reaches the earth's surface unlike UVA and UVB. UVB is commonly associated with sunburn while UVA, which penetrates deeply into the skin is a significant factor in premature aging and skin cancer

HOW DOES HELIOCARE WORK?

UV [from the sun or from a sun lamp] has many detrimental effects on the skin: it can directly cause DNA damage, and it can create so-called "reactive oxygen species" (ROS) or "free radicals" damange. ROS are high energy molecules that collide with proteins and lipids in the cell and cause direct cellular damage. This damage is responsible for the effects of UV on skin: premature aging and a prematurely lined and worn appearance

Heliocare works to turn back the sun. It brings together the unique properties of a natural fern extract (PLE) in combination with other powerful natural antioxidants - Green Tea Extract and Beta-carotene. As a result it offers significant antioxidant properties to care for the skin;

• It increases tolerance to the sun
• It protects skin cell DNA
• It reduces skin changes after chronic exposure to the sun
• It helps maintain the skin's elasticity
• It provides cell protection in the epidermis

STUDIES
 

Studies reveal that the antioxidants in Heliocare work against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation to decrease sunburn response, including a significant reduction in the number of ultraviolet induced sunburn cells and DNA damage

WHAT PROTECTION DOES HELIOCARE OFFER?
 

Heliocare works as a potent oral antioxidant. UV [from the sun or from a sun lamp] has many detrimental effects on the skin: it can directly cause DNA damage, and it can create so-called 'reactive oxygen species' (ROS) or 'free radicals'. ROS are high energy molecules that collide with proteins and lipids in the cell and cause direct cellular damage. This damage is responsible for the effects of UV on skin: premature aging

Heliocare contains antioxidants which are shown to mop up free radicals before they damage important cellular proteins. Heliocare is taken daily. It is active within 2 hours of the first dose (unlike many oral antioxidants which take months to build up sufficient levels). Also, because Heliocare is taken orally it is effective in protecting cells deep in the skin - topical antioxidants are usually ineffective in protecting cells at this level. Damage to these deeper cells is responsible for many of the signs of photoaging (e.g. wrinkles.)

RESEARCH
Importantly, over 12 years of research has confirmed the antioxidant and photoprotectant properties of Heliocare. It has shown that the agent is effective when taken in capsule form or used on the skin. And it confirmed that the capsule form has no known harmful side effects. Oral photoprotection is now the focus of much attention, and has been hailed as the 'photoprotection of the future'

60 Capsules - per bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

DOES HELIOCARE DO AWAY WITH REGULAR SUNSCREEN AND SUN BARRIERS (LIKE HATS & SUNGLASSES)?

Heliocare is definitely NOT a substitute for good sunscreens and protective clothing. It is particularly useful for someone who is known to have sensitive skin, who has had skin treatments or who wishes to minimise the aging effects of the sun. It is simply another "layer" of protection. It does not reverse damage

WHO SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T TAKE IT?
 

After 12 years of trial and 20 years of use in hot climates like Spain no adverse effects have been reported. Heliocare has a high safety profile. No specific study in patients under 18 has been undertaken

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH HELIOCARE TAKEN AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?
 

There are NO known side effects associated with Heliocare taken as a dietary supplement. Heliocare has been used for over 20 years in Europe

SHOULD I TAKE HELIOCARE IF I AM PREGNANT?
 

No. Do not use Heliocare during pregnancy

ARE THERE ANY DRUG INTERACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HELIOCARE TAKEN AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?
 

Heliocare taken as a dietary supplement has been known to potentiate the effect of digitalis extract and any of its derivatives such as digitoxin and digoxin used to treat heart failure. If you are taking any of these, or similiar products, you should not take Heliocare as a dietary supplement without consulting your physician.

WHO SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T TAKE HELIOCARE? CAN INFANTS TAKE IT, AND IF SO AT WHAT AGE? IF THE MOTHER TAKES THEM, DOES SHE TRANSFER THE BENEFITS TO THE BABY THROUGH BREAST MILK?
 

Heliocare has been on the market for more than 20 years in Europe without any known adverse effects being reported. It has not been carefully studied in patients less than 18 years of age. The excretion of active metabolites in breast milk has not been established

Warning:
Do not use during pregnancy
Not to be taken while on digoxin, or any other medicines used to treat heart failure
Keep out of reach of children
Store below 30c
Do not keep/use Heliocare Oral after its expiry date

Dosage:
Take one capsule a day with water or juice
Do not intake more than the daily recommended dose
Use in addition to a topical photoprotector

Price includes Delivery (Courier in New Zealand, Airmail elsewhere) for orders over $50