Heliocare

Heliocare is developed by Cantabria Labs, a Spanish pharmaceutical company specialising in photoprotection and dermatological skincare. The brand is built around Fernblock® — a proprietary extract from the fern Polypodium leucotomos — which provides antioxidant and photoprotective properties both topically and in oral supplement form.

The Heliocare 360° range protects against the full spectrum of damaging light: UVB (burning rays), UVA (ageing and pigmentation), visible light (a significant driver of melasma in darker skin tones), and infrared radiation. This makes it one of the most comprehensive sun protection options available in South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal regularly records UV index readings of 11+ (extreme) during summer months. Sun exposure is the single greatest accelerant of premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer risk. No anti-ageing, pigmentation, or skin-rejuvenation treatment can achieve its full potential without consistent daily SPF 50+ use.

For patients with Fitzpatrick Types III–VI (olive to dark skin), visible light protection is especially critical — visible light (not just UV) is a major trigger of melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones. Heliocare 360° colour formulations contain iron oxides that block visible light specifically, making them the preferred choice for pigmentation management.