Polypodium leucotomos! Sounds like a spell right out of Harry Potter. Well, with all its benefits, it may as well be as magical as any creature out of the fantasy series!
Here's everything you need to know about Polypodium leucotomos and the benefits you can get from this skin care ingredient.
What Is Polypodium Leucotomos?
Polypodium leucotomos is a fern that's found in the tropical areas of the Americas. It's a plant that has been used throughout the history of native Hondurans due to its many beneficial effects, including benefits to the skin.
While Hondurans used the fern in its plant form, people have been taking extracts since the 1970s under the name "anapsos."
What Are the Benefits of Polypodium Leucotomos?
This miracle fern has several amazing abilities; it has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which means it can not only keep your skin looking great, but it can also rejuvenate.
Because of this, Polypodium leucotomos has been used to alleviate symptoms of a wide range of conditions including the following:
Sunburns
Many people know to put on sunblock when enjoying a sunny day outside, but think they can get away without slathering any on when it's overcast. But that is not the case!
If you're one of those people and have suffered sunburns no matter how sunny or overcast it is outside, consider taking Polypodium leucotomos. When you take the extract twice daily, it can reduce the damaging effects of your UV exposure.
This does not mean you can skip out on the topical sunscreen, and magically be sun resistant, but it can help add one extra layer of antioxidant protection from the damaging rays of the sun.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition that affects the look and feel of your skin, and Polypodium leucotomos has been a common herbal supplement for people with this condition.
Although there hasn't been extensive research done into how Polypodium leucotomos aids psoriasis symptoms, it's been found that this fern can lessen side effects from PUVA, a medication for psoriasis.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a long term skin condition where patches of skin lose their pigmentation. Some studies have found that Polypodium leucotomos can have therapeutic effects for this skin condition.
According to one study, when people with vitiligo took a Polypodium leucotomos extract (Fernblock) for 26 weeks, some of them saw a return of color to the white patches they had on their skin. It may be an option for returning pigmentation to the skin, according to these findings.
Try Polypodium leucotomos Out
Polypodium leucotomos is one of the carefully selected ingredients in our SmarterSkin™ supplement. We included Polypodium leucotomos to give your sunscreen a boost and help maintain your skin's natural ability to protect against sun exposure & aging, to protect against harmful free radicals, and to promote skin health and resilience. However, if you have any fern sensitivities or allergies, it is probably best to avoid any fern extracts including Polypodium leucotomos.
Click here to try SmarterSkin™ and experience the benefits of Polypodium leucotomos for yourself!
