| Slather on Skin Cancer Prevention | |
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Vitamin A cream may help you avoid skin cancer |
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Slathering on skin cream containing a derivative of
vitamin A could significantly lower your risk of developing the most common form
of skin cancer, suggests a study presented at the American Association for
Cancer Research conference.
In the study, the cream reduced both the number and size of basal cell
carcinomas in mice by 85 percent. The mice were bred to be genetically
susceptible to these skin cancers.
Earlier studies have found that oral doses of the vitamin A derivatives, called
retinoids, can also help prevent skin cancer. But the oral forms cause severe
side effects. "They're usually not tolerable for long periods of time," explains
Ervin Epstein Jr., MD, a clinical professor and research dermatologist at the
University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco, who headed the
study.
Basal cell carcinomas usually develop on skin that's chronically exposed to sun.
They grow slowly, and this form of cancer rarely spreads. But it can be
disfiguring if not treated or treated inadequately.
Dr. Epstein and his colleagues hope to conduct a similar study in people
genetically predisposed to develop basal cell carcinomas. There are still
questions about the creams, which are available only by prescription, he notes.
It's still not clear how safe the creams are when used for long periods of time,
or which of the currently available creams is most effective, since different
creams contain different types of vitamin A derivative.
If skin cancer runs in your family, you're fair skinned, or you're out in the
sun often, and are interested in the creams, consult your dermatologist