As many of you may have, a few weeks ago I read a news article regarding a possible link between moisturizer use and skin cancer, specifically squamous cell carcinomas. This is certainly a frightening thought especially considering our regular use of moisturizers. It seems that researchers were trying to determine if caffeine might be helpful in treating skin cancers. They wanted to test which type of moisturizer might work best with the caffeine. So they exposed some little white mice to radiation and then treated them with several common moisturizers (Dermabase, Dermovan, Eucerin, and Vanicream). Unexpectedly, there was an increase in the number of tumors.
Now does this mean that we should all immediately clear our shelves of all moisturizers, especially the ones they used? No, just No.
I don’t know if you have noticed the many studies on coffee over the years. One year its an evil concoction which will kill us all and the next its a miracle elixir which will cure all your ills. Seems they cannot come to a concensus.
My point is that Science is a wonderful thing, but it certainly has problems giving us absolute truths. Concerning the moisturizers, mice are not human. They may have similarities (which is why they test with them) but they are not an exact match. Moisturizers may just be harmful to mice and not us.
Our skin needs the moisture. I ask you to imagine your skin if you could not treat it as you do. The dry, itchy feeling would drive you crazy, not to mention the damage you would do with all the scratching.
No, the prudent thing is to continue pampering your skin, mindful that there may be dangers. Use sunscreens when you are exposed. Keep a watch on moles as they always tell us. Hopefully this is just a reminder to the producers of our products that products need to be tested fully to avoid just this type of surprise for millions of women.
