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Moisturizer Use Linked to Skin Cancer

By Guy Montague-Jones

18-Aug-2008 -

Scientists have linked a batch of commonly used moisturizing creams to skin cancer in mice but remain guarded about the implications for human use.

Researchers at Rutgers University, New Jersey, applied four widely used moisturizers to mice every day for several months and then exposed the animals to UVB radiation.

In a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology they found the number of non-melanoma tumors was significantly higher in the mice treated with cream than the control group.

Different products, different results

Significant differences were also observed between the moisturizers.

Dermabase by Paddock Laboratories, Dermovan by Healthpoint, Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream by Beiersdorf and Vanicream by Pharmaceutical Specialties were all put under the microscope.

Tumor rates increased 95 percent with Dermovan and only 24 percent with Eucerin leading the scientists to conclude that certain ingredients were responsible for the higher risk levels.

They prepared a custom blend without several suspect ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate and found that cancer rates were significantly lower.

Doubts about relevance to humans

Leading study author Allan Conney said further studies were needed to determine whether the conclusions could be extended to apply to humans exposed to sunlight.

Rodent skin is far more sensitive than human skin and for the purposes of the experiment strong UVB light rather than natural sunlight was used to test the effect of moisturizer use.

Source: “Tumorigenic Effect of Some Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams when Applied Topically to UVB-Pretreated High-Risk Mice.” Yao-Ping Lu, You-Rong Lou, Jian-Guo Xie, Qingyun Peng, Weichung J. Shih, Yong Lin and Allan H. Conney.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Advanced online publication, 14 Aug 2008.
DOI:10.1038/jid.2008.241

Courtesy of CosmeticsDesign,com

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