Moisturizers Incite Skin Cancer In Mice: Study

Researchers at Rutgers University conducted a study on the effects of moisturizers on skin and shockingly, they discovered when mice were exposed to UV radiations, ordinary moisturizing creams aided in growth of skin cancers in these mice.

Journal of Investigative Dermatology carried the report in its August 14 issue.

The findings may be relevant to humans because about 90 per cent of the genetic make up of mice and that of humans is similar. But nothing has been said by the researchers with surety regarding humans on the issue.

Lead researcher Allan H. Conney, from the university's Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research said the creams they experimented with showed tumorigenic activities.

In other words, they had tumor causing ability.

Skin moisturizers used in the study were Dermovan, manufactured by Galderma Laboratory Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas; Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream, manufactured by Beiersdorf of Hamburg Germany; Dermabase, manufactured by Patrick Laboratories in Minneapolis; and Vanicream, manufactured by Pharmaceutical Specialties Inc., in Rochester, Minn.

He further cited that since the tests have only been done on mice, the exact effects of moisturizers on humans cannot be defined as yet with certainty. But the findings definitely raise an alarm regarding the use of skin moisturizers.

In the study, hairless mice were exposed to UV radiation for a significantly longer time span, consequently mice developed non-melanoma skin cancer. Than every five days per week for 17 weeks, mice were treated with four different common brands of skin moisturizers.

Mice treated with moisturizers developed sever forms of tumors and had more tumors also as compared with mice that were only exposed to UV radiations.

Researchers under the supervision of Conney identified few ingredients in the creams which caused an increase in tumors. When few of the ingredients were removed, the moisturizers did not cause an increase or growth of tumors on an exposure to UV radiation.

However, Conney said, "We really don't know what ingredients in these creams are doing that…There is a need to have the various companies test their creams to see whether or not there is a problem."

Conney remarked that there are certain creams in market which actually may have anti-tumorigenic activity.

On the other hand, Dr. Robin Ashinoff, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, commented that though the findings are interesting but these cannot be applied to human beings.

Not all drugs have similar effect on humans as they have on animals, earlier studies suggest.

Ashinoff pin-pointed, "Certainly, the issue here is to protect yourself from that degree of continuous UVB-induced priming for skin cancer by practicing good sun protection and sunscreen use in the first place."

Ashinoff said an in-depth study is required before stating anything with conviction.