The explosive increase in skin cancers and melanomas in the past 70 years has led to greater interest in things you can do to prevent this malady. You probably know that you should apply sunscreen before going out in order to minimize UV damage, but you might not know that certain vitamins can aid your skin's ability to handle sunlight. According to dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, ingesting certain antioxidant vitamins can offset free radical damage that leads to aging and diseases such as skin cancer.
Skin cancer and vitamins
Because studies of specific foods and supplements that prevent one type of malady often directly contradict later studies about other illnesses, the best advice to prevent skin cancer (beyond applying sunscreen) is to eat a varied and healthy diet. Dermatologist Nicholas Perricone said that around 80% of your body's vitamin stores are depleted by 40 minutes of sun exposure and he recommends applying a topical vitamin-infused skin cream as extra protection along with sunscreen. Regarding supplements, he tells patients to take vitamins C and E along with alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10. A 2008 study found no significant difference in skin cancer levels in participants who were taking selenium and vitamin E supplements as compared to those on placebos.
Any effects that supplements may have could be reduced by their overall absorption levels in the body, which is why eating foods rich in antioxidants may provide added protection for your skin when combined with supplements. Consume vitamin E rich foods such as almonds and avocados, vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, and fish, which are known to have high levels of fatty acids. Drinking milk fortified with vitamin D could help you replenish levels of this important vitamin if you are not getting enough sunlight to naturally fulfill dietary requirements for vitamin D.
Perricone suggests that inflammation in the body is a primary cause of skin cancer and he believes that diet does make a difference in rates of the illness. In order to maximize your odds, make sure you avoid foods with trans fats and those that are overly processed, while getting enough of vitamins A through Zinc in your diet and supplements. And apply sunscreen even if you are doing all of the right things.
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