World's first all-natural sunscreen uses melanin, doctor says its promising
A biotech startup, Avisa Myko, from Kerala, has developed melanin using fermentation technology to create the world's first fully bio-based sunscreen, promising safer sun protection and fewer allergic reactions.
A breakthrough in biotechnology could redefine sun protection. By producing melanin, Avisa Myko claims it is offering the world’s first all-natural sunscreen.
Melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour, is also nature’s own UV shield. However, its widespread use has long been limited by cost. Currently priced at around $400 per gram, melanin is several times more expensive than gold.
But now things could be different.
The company, backed by San Francisco-based IndieBio, and co-founded by Ravi Adgulwar and Sheshagiri Raghukumar, says it has solved this problem by producing melanin through fermentation, making it nearly 2,000 times cheaper than existing sources.
Their in-depth process promises to deliver significantly higher yields than conventional laboratory strains.
The sunscreen, now product-ready, has demonstrated SPF 30. Unlike mineral or chemical sunscreens, it contains no synthetic UV filters, is reef-safe, and uses only bio-based ingredients.
ADDRESSING SAFETY AND ALLERGY CONCERNS
Dermatologists say the innovation is promising but stress the need for continued clinical evidence.
“This is a promising innovation. Using melanin from fungi for sunscreen could offer a more natural and skin-friendly option,” said Dr. Asma Akhlaq, Consultant Dermatologist, CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur. “However, data on SPF equivalence, UVA protection, photostability, skin penetration, and long-term safety are essential before it can be considered a reliable alternative.”
The primary target groups who could benefit out of the product include pregnant and lactating women, children, and people with sensitive skin, and populations who are often advised to avoid chemical sunscreens.
Demand is expected to be especially strong in the US and Europe, where awareness of sunscreen toxicity and skin cancer risk is higher.
With price parity already achieved and costs expected to fall further, melanin may soon move from lab innovation to everyday skin care staple.