The makers of Harmonized Water (a.k.a. drinkable sunscreen) do a “clinical trial.” Hilarity ensues.

[Avalux]

19. Ummm....wow. Snake oil salesmen!

They gave their product to some people, exposed them to UV light and took some photos and are now claiming they did an RCT. Here's how it should have been done:

1. Screen and select subjects based upon criteria that will ensure uniformity, i.e. half male and half female with the same skin type (use the fitzpatrick scale).
2. 1:1 ratio randomization of subjects to receive either product or a placebo.
3. Baseline skin assessment by clinician.
3. Baseline photos.
4. Dose subjects with products, expose each to UV light (identical voltage and time) at the same anatomical location.
5. After exposure photos.
6. After exposure skin assessment by clinician.
7. Compare results of skin assessments between the two groups.

The photos are merely a visual and shouldn't be presented as 'results'. The skin assessment would be done with a standardized scale so that the results can be analyzed.

The manufacturers of this product know it's woo and know a real study would never prove it works, so they made crap up. Unfortunately, some people won't know the difference.