Does moisturizer contribute to cancer?

A study has found that some moisturizers boost rates of tumor growth in cancer-prone mice. From Business Week:

The researchers found that mice treated with skin moisturizers showed an increased rate of tumor formation. In addition, there were more tumors on the animals treated with moisturizers than on the mice that were only given UV radiation.

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

Conney's group identified several ingredients in the moisturizers that appear to enhance tumor growth.

"We took out a couple of ingredients and made a cream that turned out to be non-tumorigenic," Conney said. The resulting lotion did not increase cancer growth in mice exposed to UV radiation, the researchers found.

A lot of quoted experts are quick to point out elsewhere in the article that this proves nothing about what the moisturizers do in humans. But since it's obviously absolutely unnecessary to slather your face and body with carcinogens, I'm sticking to my single-ingredient moisturizers: jojoba oil, and more recently virgin coconut oil, which has similar properties. My skin is happier by far without all the highly processed mystery ingredients. Putting industrial chemicals on your skin every day is like eating nothing but Spam and Snack Pack--i.e., not exactly a recipe for health, eh?

My mom has become a huge devotee of squalane oil, which she buys from Dr. Susan Lark's website. Squalane, naturally found in human sebum, is derived from shark livers. You can also find a vegan version made from olives at Body Moose for a mere $9.99.  My mom's skin looks fantastic, and it seems that this stuff has in fact softened her wrinkles, so I'm going to try some.

Comments

[Maggie]

Shark livers! Please buy the veggie version. Sharks are going to be extinct in just the next 20 years or so--they need all the help they can get.

[Hilary]

I saw this on some show yesterday, although the study was questioned because the rats already are prone to skin cancer, whereas there's no data regarding the use of these moisturizers on the normal skin of healthy people (or even animals).

BTW -- we share names! Except I spell mine with just one "L."

~Hilary

[Contessa Gibson]

This is disturbing to hear, however some forget about the great alternatives in lines like Mary Kay (www.marykay.com/contessa) or Arbonne (www.contessa.myarbonne.com) when it comes to market alternatives.

[Bada]

I quit using complicated lotions. Now I only use 100% pure aloe vera gel. It's a bit sticky, but my skin glows.

[Karley]

I love your blog, Jack and Hill.

I totally agree. It is scary what chemicals are put into mass marketed cosmetics and skin care. While I do not want to criticize another company a poster mentioned here, Mary Kay uses parabens in almost everything, as well as other nasty chemicals.

I use nearly everything 100% pure and natural on my skin. And, yes, virgin coconut oil is wonderful. I use it all over daily.

I truly believe in the coming months and years that science will find even more links between cancer and what we put on our skin. I look at so many retail cosmetics lines the way I do processed, pre-packaged foods: they may look good, but are bad for you.

Thanks for providing such a great blog!

[Angel (I love rice moisturizer) Rice]

Rice moisturizer is one natural moisturizers it helps protect the skin from being damaged by UVA and UVB which are the cause of melasma, freckle, and skin cancer. Because it has plentiful minerals, unsaturated fatty acid and vitamins especially the natural vitamin E which is in high quantity as Tocols (Tocopherol & Tocotrienol), Gamma-Qryzanol and Ceramide.

[dermatology rancho cucamonga]

Its better that there's a research about this its found that mice treated with skin moisturizers showed an increased rate of tumor formation. Keep up the good work.

by: sphin