Think over the counter lotions are really there to help moisturize & protect your skin? Think again! When put to the test, four commonly used moisturizers failed miserably.
(WebMD) Four commonly used moisturizers promoted skin cancers in mouse studies. The moisturizers tested in the study were Eucerin, Dermabase, Dermovan and Vanicream.
"In a mouse model of sun-related skin cancer, frequent application of each product resulted in more skin tumors and faster tumor growth," says study leader Allan H. Conney, PhD, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research and professor in the school of pharmacy at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J.
"This was unexpected. We really did not expect to see the tumor-promoting activity of these creams," Conney tells WebMD.
For these new animal studies, the researchers used hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light twice a week for 20 weeks. With no further irradiation, such mice eventually develop skin cancer -- very much like humans overexposed to sunlight early in life.
Five days a week, for 17 weeks, the researchers rubbed moisturizer into the animals' skin. The result:
"This was unexpected. We really did not expect to see the tumor-promoting activity of these creams," Conney tells WebMD.
For these new animal studies, the researchers used hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light twice a week for 20 weeks. With no further irradiation, such mice eventually develop skin cancer -- very much like humans overexposed to sunlight early in life.
Five days a week, for 17 weeks, the researchers rubbed moisturizer into the animals' skin. The result:
- Dermabase increased the total number of tumors by 69%.
- Dermovan increased the total number of tumors by 95%.
- Eucerin increased the total number of tumors by 24%.
- Vanicream increased the total number of tumors by 58%.
The two ingredients linked to skin irritation (sodium lauryl sulfate) and tumor promotion (mineral oil).
While we also don't condone animal testing, without this knowledge, thousands of people would still be harming their delicate skin with these harsh chemicals. Just because something smells nice and has good advertising, DOESN'T mean its safe!
