Moisturizers Increase Skin Cancer Risk In UV-Radiation Treated Mice

Allan Conney and colleagues used a hairless mouse model for sunlight-induced non-melanoma skin cancer in humans. They exposed the mice to UV radiation to mimic exposure to the sun and then, after stopping UV treatment, they applied four different brands of moisturizers to the animals. Mice treated with each of the four brands had an increased rate of tumor formation. There were also more tumors per animal than in UV-treated mice that were not moisturized.

The team honed in on several ingredients that they believed might enhance tumorigenesis in the skin. A new moisturizer prepared without these ingredients did not have the same effect of increasing the rate of skin cancer in the UV-exposed mice.

Though the research may initially appear alarming, the authors indicate that the significance of these findings has not been established in humans. Further research is required to determine this.

CONTACT

Allan Conney (Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA)
E-mail: aconney@rci.rutgers.edu

Carl Blesch (Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA)
E-mail: cblesch@ur.rutgers.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Journal of Investigative Dermatology press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza