Vitamins C, E and A, zinc, selenium, beta carotene (carotenoids), omega-3 fatty acids, lycopene and polyphenols are among the antioxidants many dermatologists recommend including in your diet to help prevent skin cancer.
According to researchers, people who took vitamin D regularly were less likely to have had melanoma in the past or currently and were deemed by dermatologists to be less likely to develop melanoma in the future. The study was recently published in Melanoma Research.
Australian researchers have found that a form of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide or niacinamide), significantly reduces the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers in those with a previous history of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
Regular use of vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, according to a study published in Melanoma Research. Researchers found a lower rate of melanoma and other skin cancers among patients who reported taking vitamin D supplements regularly.
New research conducted by dermatologists at the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with Kuopio University Hospital in Finland found that people who regularly take vitamin D supplementation are at a lower risk for melanoma, as opposed to those who do not take the supplement.
Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Therefore, the effects of vitamin C can vary depending on its concentration. One study demonstrated that high concentrations of vitamin C induced cytotoxicity in malignant melanoma but promoted tumor growth at lower concentrations (30).
Skin cancer.
Scientific studies suggest that EGCG and green tea polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties that may help prevent the development and growth of skin tumors.
UV rays from the sun and indoor tanning are a powerful attack on the skin and the primary risk factor for developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Frequent severe sunburns in early childhood can especially increase melanoma risk, but sunburns later in life and cumulative exposure also play an important role.
Targeting gene changes can stop the cancer from growing and spreading. Medications that can do this include dabrafenib (Tafinlar), trametinib (Mekinist), and vemurafenib (Zelboraf).
Melanoma can go away on its own. Melanoma on the skin can spontaneously regress, or begin to, without any treatment. That's because the body's immune system is able launch an assault on the disease that's strong enough to spur its retreat.
Another study, published some years earlier in the journal Cancer, found that curcumin stopped the growth of melanoma skin cancer cells in a lab. Scientists discovered the curcumin inhibited cancer cell viability and triggered cell death in three different melanoma cell samples.
Coffee has been associated with lower melanoma and basal cell carcinoma risk in humans. The catch? Decaf doesn't have the same effect. That's because caffeine inhibits an enzyme called ATR, which plays a key role in the survival of cells damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Coffee contains biologically-active substances that suppress carcinogenesis in vivo, and coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of malignant melanoma.
We documented 2,254 melanoma cases over 4 million person-years of follow-up. After adjustment for other risk factors, higher total caffeine intake was associated with a lower risk of melanoma (≥393 mg/d vs. <60 mg/d: HR=0.78, 95% CI=0.64–0.96, Ptrend=0.048). The association was more apparent in women (≥393 mg/d vs.
During melanomagenesis, both immune and melanoma cells undergo the immunoediting process that includes interconnected phases as elimination, equilibrium, and escape or immune evasion. In this context, dendritic cells (DCs) are active players that indirectly counteract the proliferation of melanoma cells.
The primary risk factor for melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, typically from the sun and tanning beds, with the risk growing with the amount of exposure. Early exposure, particularly for people who had frequent sunburns as a child, also increases melanoma risk.
Vitamin D fortified foods
Research shows that adequate vitamin D intake is associated with a decreased risk of melanoma, and that people who are vitamin D deficient have a poorer outcome when diagnosed with melanoma. Include vitamin D fortified foods in your diet such as milk, yogurt, cereal, and juice.
Melanoma treatment can often remove the cancer. Caught early, the disease has a nearly 100 percent cure rate. But melanoma can come back.
Some studies suggest the curcumin in turmeric has a variety of health benefits, including fighting cancer cells. Some lab studies have found it might work against lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.
Turmeric inhibits the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for dark spots and other kinds of hyperpigmentation. With regular use, a turmeric-based product can help these blemishes fade away naturally to give skin a more even-toned appearance!
Other herbs with antioxidant and skin-protecting effects include bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) , ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ) , milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) , ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) , and hawthorn ( Crataegus laevigata ) .
What are the signs of late-stage skin cancer? Melanoma is considered stage 4 when it has metastasized to lymph nodes in a part of the body far from the original tumor or if it has metastasized to internal organs like the lungs, liver, brain, bone or gastrointestinal tract.