Reduce Skin Cancer Development
Niacinamide B3 is a vitamin shown to reduce skin cancer development.
I have to admit that when I first heard this news a few years ago from a well-educated patient, I was surprised. My patients teach me LOTS of things. Years later, I keep hearing more and more. This year at our WV Dermatologic Society meeting, it was a topic of discussion yet again. Time to take notice and share this exciting news.
Many vitamins play a role in skin health. There are eight B vitamins in all. Today we will focus on Vitamin B3, niacinamide aka nicotinamide. Niacinamide is available over the counter, and the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is 20mg. It can be found in the diet in legumes, cereals, meat, fish, eggs, and milk. In skin cancer prevention the dose studied in clinical trials was 500mg twice a day. Because niacinamide is a B vitamin, excess is excreted in the urine.
Scientific studies in patients who had a history of having lots of skin cancers showed a 25% reduction in the development of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in the first year of taking niacinamide. There are ongoing studies to determine if niacinamide reduces the incidence of melanoma as well. In large clinical trials, the vitamin was well tolerated with no significant adverse side effects.
For those who are interested in a more detailed discussion, check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website summary
https://www.skincancer.org/publications/the-melanoma-letter/spring-2016-vol-34-no-1/nicotinamide
For those interested in purchasing niacinamide, I found it on Amazon for under $10. Making it about a $5/month investment.
In a previous blog post about sunscreen, I discussed another way to reduce the incidence of skin cancer development, so I think it deserves reviewing here – DNA repair enzymes called Photolyases. Photolyases work to actively correct DNA damage caused by sun exposure. Products containing photolyases not only protect but ACTIVELY REPAIR the skin as well. Antiaging products containing DNA repair enzymes have been available commercially for a few years in products such as ZO Daily Power Defense
https://zoskinhealth.com/zoskinhealth/daily-power-defense (plankton derived photolyases), but combining them with sunscreen at an affordable price point is new and exciting. We carry the only sunscreen containing photolyases in the Spring Boutique.
It is made by ISDIN and is called Eryfotona Actinica. https://www.isdin.com/us/sun-damage One study showed that in addition to protecting the skin, using a topical sunscreen containing photolyase could also decrease the number of active actinic keratoses.
Dr. Rosenberger has had skin cancer herself and treats hundreds of patients per month for skin cancer. She is always searching for new ways to help patients who have suffered from skin cancer in the past, as well as those who hope to reduce their risk of developing a skin cancer in the future.
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