Topical Protection Against Skin Aging and Cancer

After decades of heightened sun-risk awareness, skin cancer is still the most common malignancy in the United States.¹

About 87,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US in 2017. Nearly 10,000 Americans will die from metastatic melanoma.²

According to the latest report by the Environmental Working Group,³ almost 75% of sunscreens contain “worrisome ingredients” and offer inferior sun protection.

For example, 70% of the sunscreens evaluated still contain a compound that, when applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight, generates reactive oxygen species.^3-5 This means that increased use of these sunscreens may be a factor in increased skin cancer rates!

Particularly surprising, some of the highest-SPF-rated sunscreens are often the riskiest.⁶

Game-changing sunscreen formulas have been developed that block the full spectrum of harmful ultraviolet radiation and provide plant extracts that inhibit and even reverse solar-induced skin damage.

The Escalating Skin Cancer Epidemic

One in every three diagnosed cancers is a skin malignancy.⁷

Over the past 40 years, melanoma cases have skyrocketed more than four-fold for men and more than eight-fold for women.⁸ Non-melanoma skin cancers affect over 3 million people.² Depletion of the ozone layer has contributed to increased risk of skin cancer globally.⁷

Although melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, it is the most deadly. Other skin cancers, while less dangerous, can involve costly surgical procedures to remove.⁹ To give you an idea of skin cancer prevalence, basal cell carcinoma is more common than all other human malignancies combined.^10,11

These staggering rates underscore the fact that most sunscreens are failing to deliver adequate protection against damaging solar rays.^12,13 Even more concerning are chemicals found in many sunscreens that appear to increase free radicals and deactivate antioxidant systems, which may contribute to skin cancer risk!^3-5

It’s no wonder that skin cancer is the most common American cancer.¹ Yet it remains one of the most preventable forms of the disease.¹⁴

Solar rays cause damage that goes beyond cancer. Sun-induced aging of the skin or photoaging is clinically characterized by deep wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, rough skin, skin-tone loss, dryness, spider veins, leathery appearance, loss of elasticity, and precancerous lesions.^15,16

Photoaging occurs most frequently on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, upper chest, hands, and forearms.¹⁶

Only about 14% of men and 30% of women regularly wear sunscreen on their face and other exposed skin.¹⁷ Many people halfheartedly limit their sun exposure. But effective protection is needed every day, as solar rays damage skin far more than anyone realizes!

Failures of Commercial Sunscreens

A number of factors drive the exploding incidence of skin cancer cases. Armed with new sunscreen options, individuals can now get greater protection than ever before.

Most people skip wearing sunscreen on cloudy days. Radiation scattering by clouds, however, can produce higher total radiation on cloudy days than on sunny days. About 80% of ultraviolet light penetrates moderate cloud cover.^18,19

Cloudy or not, most people don’t worry about sunscreen if they’re going to be outside for under an hour. But only a few minutes of daily exposure to ultraviolet photons can alter skin structure,^20,21 leading to skin cancer and premature skin aging.

Even those who wear sunscreen daily generally apply it incorrectly and fail to reapply it regularly as required. Many consumers apply only 25%-50% of the recommended amount.²² And it’s still important to avoid unnecessary sun exposure even after proper sunscreen application.^23,24

Consumers are fooled by a high and misleading “sun protection factor,” or SPF.

All SPF means is that these products block the UVB rays that affect the superficial epidermis skin layer.^6,25 While this helps prevent sunburn, it does nothing to block the UVA radiation that makes up 95% of ultraviolet radiation and causes much greater damage.^3,25

UVA penetrates more deeply—accelerating skin aging, suppressing immunity, and fostering skin cancer.^26-28

Equally misleading are the labels on so-called “broad-spectrum” sunscreens that claim to block carcinogenic UVA radiation in addition to sunburn-causing UVB. The Environmental Working Group determined that only half of all sunscreens would offer enough UVA protection to be sold in Europe (which has much higher standards).²⁹

Most frightening, the public is led to believe that higher SPF ratings are superior, but they give people a false sense of security. A 100 SPF provides just 1% more UV protection than a 50 SPF—although the higher rating encourages longer exposure.⁶

But any sunscreen will provide some cancer defense, right? Wrong. A 2016 review of sunscreen products found that almost three-fourths of the examined sunscreens contain “worrisome ingredients” that may increase cancer risk, thus defeating the purpose of using them. For example, 70% of the sunscreens evaluated in this report still contain a compound (oxybenzone) that, when applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight, generates reactive oxygen species (ROS).^3-5

Blocking the Dangers of Ultraviolet Radiation

An effective sun-protection formulation needs to work on different levels, because skin damage itself occurs via multiple mechanisms.

In the skin, UV rays generate free radicals and other substances that damage the DNA.³⁰ Ultraviolet light destroys Langerhans cells, specialized immune cells found abundantly in the skin that protect against invading pathogens and participate in the immune response against skin cancer.^30-32 UV rays also contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which accelerates skin aging.^33,34

Solar radiation-induced oxidative stress triggers the release of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors, further damaging elastin and collagen and breaking down the skin’s structural integrity.³⁵

Adding to the risks are some commercial sun protection products themselves.³⁶ Found in most sunscreens, octibenzone and oxybenzone are rated “high-risk” by the Environmental Working Group.³⁷

In a 2016 report, oxybenzone was still found in nearly 70% of sunscreens.^3,37 And higher-SPF sunscreens generally contain higher concentrations of dangerous chemicals.⁶

Topical Lotion Protects against UV Damage

Science-based topical formulas are now available that safely block solar radiation—while adding a second line of defense against the destructive mechanisms of any UV light reaching the skin.

One of these new sunscreens can be found in a light lotion that readily absorbs into skin without a white, greasy mess. Health-conscious individuals should apply this formula daily, even on cloudy days, and reapply every two hours if you are remaining outdoors.

This new sunscreen lotion contains ingredients that safely block UV radiation and may reverse its DNA-damaging and photoaging effects. Unlike many commercial products, the ingredients in this new lotion formulation rate scores of between 1 and 3 on the hazard scale of the independent Environmental Working Group—a scale that rates “high hazard” chemicals as being between 7 and 10.

The new lotion formulation includes zinc oxide, which blocks both UVA2 and UVA1 rays. Although some products exclusively rely on zinc oxide to fight UVB, it provides incomplete UVB protection. Therefore, this new lotion also contains titanium dioxide, which more effectively reflects and blocks UVB and further blocks UVA2.³⁸

Combining these two compounds means that just 6% concentrations of each are required. This avoids the white-smeary appearance of products containing only one of these compounds, which often discourages users from applying adequate amounts. Please know that titanium dioxide remains on your skin and is not systemically absorbed.

Convenient Spray Bottle Option

For convenient whole body application, a new sunscreen spray has been developed that provides similar benefits to the new lotion. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide cannot be used in this formula because they will clog a spray bottle.

To accommodate a spray mist, scientists combined the following UV-blocking agents:

• Avobenzone to absorb UVA1 rays.³⁸
• Octocrylene to filter out UVA2 and UVB.^38,39
• Octisalate and homosalate to fully enhance UVB radiation defense.³⁸

Most spray-on sun products are slow-drying, but this formulation contains just enough alcohol, allowing for instant drying and encouraging convenient reapplications throughout the day.

A review panel assessing this (FDA-approved⁴⁰) alcohol found no evidence of phototoxicity on human skin, even at higher concentrations.⁴¹

By including different ingredient combinations, both the new lotion and spray provide unsurpassed protection against the full range of UVA radiation, as well as UVB.

Recent research on cancer-fighting plant compounds shows how combining botanical agents with UV-blocking compounds can inhibit and proactively repair damage that still occurs.

Oat Beta-Glucans Help Reverse Wrinkling

Oat beta-glucans have been shown to rapidly and deeply permeate the epidermis.^42,43

Deep in the skin they activate genes that enhance collagen synthesis and promote skin cell-repair.⁴⁴ Clinical research shows that beta-glucans restructure human tissue, significantly reversing wrinkling.⁴³

Published in Phytotherapy Research in 2014, a review concluded that beta-glucans strengthen the skin’s ability to inhibit environmentally-triggered aging/wrinkling.⁴⁵

Green Tea Extract Enhances DNA Repair

Topical green tea extract and its polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) were shown to prevent skin cancer in lab animals.

Green tea extract and EGCG enhances DNA repair and maintains robust immune function. It counters UV radiation’s effects, which invariably suppress immune function and promote UV-induced skin cancers.^46-49

Green tea-treated skin has shown reduced sunburn cell numbers, less depletion of epidermal Langerhans cells, and photoprotective effects against UVA. Adding green tea extract to sunscreens may help thwart skin cancer at multiple stages in its development.^46-49

Beyond cancer, studies show that green tea and green tea extract prevent photoaging when used orally or topically.^50-54 A lab study demonstrated that topically applied green tea polyphenols have clearly greater photoprotective efficacy than when taken orally.⁴⁶

In 2015, a review of previous studies concluded that green tea polyphenols:

“…protect against UV irradiation-stimulated skin photoaging” and inhibit its hyperpigmentation, wrinkling, and immunosuppression.⁵⁵

Licorice Root Extract Suppresses Skin Inflammation

Licorice root has been recognized in Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-ulcer, and cancer-preventive properties.⁵⁶ Licorice has been used medicinally since prehistoric times.⁵⁷ Studies now show that licorice constituents inhibit the growth of melanoma cancer cells and induce many cancer cell types to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death).^58,59

A double-blind study concluded that licorice extract is potentially effective for treating atopic dermatitis—a chronic, inflammatory skin disease.⁶⁰ Two years later, a second group of researchers found that the licorice constituent glycyrrhizin “might offer protection from the damage induced in humans by UVB radiation.”⁶¹

Milk Thistle Extract Blocks DNA Damage

Milk thistle compounds—silibinin and silymarin—deliver potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing properties.^62-67 Significant decreases in skin cancer number and size were shown for topical application of silymarin and silibinin.^66,67

Specifically investigating UV radiation, scientists found that silibinin blocks DNA skin damage and impedes cancer cell growth in mice.⁶⁷ It may do this in part by enhancing the activity of the p53 gene, which protects against cancer.⁶² Compellingly, researchers found that silibinin helps repair DNA damage caused by previous exposure to UVB radiation.⁶⁸

Silymarin was also shown to protect against skin-tumor promotion.⁶⁶ One investigation concluded that silymarin “may favorably supplement sunscreen protection and provide additional anti-photocarcinogenic protection.”⁶²

Rosemary Extract Inhibits Skin Tumor Growth

Rosemary has been shown to enhance the body’s ability to eliminate potential carcinogens.⁶⁹ Lab studies have shown that rosemary slows or stops DNA damage and tumor-cell proliferation, induces tumor-cell apoptosis, and suppresses genes that enable tissue invasion and metastatic spread.^70-72 Two rosemary compounds—carnosic and ursolic acids—particularly benefit the skin.^73-75

In a similar study relevant to sunscreens, topically applied rosemary extract inhibited tumor growth—up to 99%, depending on concentration!⁷³

Ursolic acid found in rosemary inhibits reactive oxygen species in skin cells and prevents the skin-aging effects of UVA rays.⁷⁶ Remarkably, ursolic acid also powerfully blocks the growth of cancerous melanoma cells.⁷⁵

Plant Extracts Inhibit UV Skin Damage

Oat kernel extract has been clinically demonstrated to regenerate skin.⁴³

Green tea, licorice, milk thistle, and rosemary, have been shown to deliver potent radical-scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and DNA-protective effects.

These properties are important when seeking to inhibit and repair skin damage by UV radiation.^{46-49,58,59,67,76} A published study that evaluated these plant extracts concluded that:

“…botanicals may favorably supplement sunscreen protection and may provide additional antiphotocarcinogenic protection, including the protection against other skin disorders caused by solar UV radiation.”¹²

Summary

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States, yet most people are not properly guarding against the damaging impact of UV radiation.

Many commercial sunscreens fail to provide adequate protection against UV radiation and contain potentially harmful chemicals that may boost skin cancer risk.

Novel sunscreen formulas safely block the full range of cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation.

Furthermore, they deliver botanicals that work at the cellular level to block and repair the damage inflicted by UV rays and normal aging.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

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