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Remedies for Skin Cancers

Cancer is an nonspecific name for a group of diseases in which cells reproduce and divide uncontrollably. This process can create tumors and gain the ability to metastasize, or spread throughout the body. Carcinomas and malignant melanomas are two types of skin cancer, which are named depending on their ability to metastasize and the location in which they occur. Many remedies have been suggested to treat skin cancers, such as vitamins C, D and E, green tea, beta carotene, selenium and zinc, all of which have varying levels of efficacy. However, always consult an oncologist or dermatologist to treat skin cancer before self-medicating with supplements.

  1. Green Tea

    • A study published in the March 2011 issue of "Pharmacology Research" documented the inhibition of tumorgenesis, or the development of tumors, in skin cancer when patients supplemented their diets with green tea or the biologically active components, called phenols. The purpose of this study was to identify the most significant ingredient in green tea in combating skin cancers and to document the molecular pathways used by the substance to inhibit carcinogenesis, or cancer formation. The authors found that the most active phenol in green tea is (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, EGCG, which can induce cellular changes to prevent cell growth and division, prevent blood vessel formation in tumors and cause apoptosis, or genetically-programmed cell death. They cautioned, however, that further research is still needed before recommending treatment of skin cancer with EGCG.

    Phenols in Green Tea

    • A study appearing in the April 2011 issue of "Biochemistry and Biophysics" discussed the photoprotective properties of dietary consumption of green tea-extracted polyphenols on UV-induced DNA damage to skin cells, which has been implicated in tumor development and suppression of the immune system. The author found that the topical application or oral administration of polyphenols through drinking water prevented the development of UV-induced tumor development in a strain of mice that were genetically engineered to be susceptible to skin cancer.

    Vitamin D

    • Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol and activated by exposure to sunlight. It plays an important role in immunity, cancer development as well as cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency, which is common among many populations around the world, can increase the risk of skin, breast and gastrointestinal cancers. The study reported that vitamin D will bind to cellular receptors, enter the cells and direct protein formation, which induce a number of important cellular responses. These include the inhibition of molecular pathways involved in tumor formation through the induction of apoptosis and the prevention of cellular growth and proliferation.

    Antioxidant Supplementation

    • A December 2010 article appearing in the "European Journal of Cancer" documented a study that investigated the long-term effects of antioxidant supplementation on the incidence of skin cancer. The authors assessed both melanoma and nonmelanoma cancer rates with a placebo-controlled, randomized study of over 12,000 patients, who received either a daily placebo or a combination supplement of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, beta carotene, selenium and zinc for an eight-year period. The researchers found that during the study, skin cancer rates increased due to antioxidant supplementation and they observed a significant decrease when supplementation was stopped. Interestingly, the study concluded that antioxidant supplementation plays a causative role in the development of skin cancer in women, but not in men.

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