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Sunscreen May Promote Skin Cancer Growth

Because many products contain vitamin A

By Kate Schwartz,  Newser Staff

Posted May 24, 2010 7:13 AM CDT | Updated May 29, 2010 6:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sunscreen may not be the great protector it's cracked up to be: A study of 500 of the most popular sunscreen products found that nearly half may actually promote the growth of skin cancer. That's because they contain some form of vitamin A, which may accelerate the rate at which malignant cells develop when used on skin exposed to sunlight. In their annual report, researchers at Environmental Working Group point to a decade-old FDA study they discovered on the vitamin's photocarcinogenic properties.

"In that year-long study, tumors and lesions developed up to 21% faster in lab animals coated in a vitamin A-laced cream than animals treated with a vitamin-free cream," the report said. AOL News notes that the FDA has denied knowing about vitamin A-related dangers, but EWG maintains that "there was enough evidence 10 years ago for FDA to caution consumers against the use of vitamin A in sunscreens." EWG dubbed a paltry 39 of those reviewed safe and effective; view them here.

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
Fatquah
May 29, 2010 4:01 PM CDT
That's why I never leave my basement!
Count-Spatula
May 29, 2010 2:37 PM CDT
Oh American Capitalism, you're at least as evil as socialism.
Richard Cozby
May 25, 2010 3:19 PM CDT
That's right! The cancer preventing cream causes cancer!!! Run for the hills everybody! Get into a cave, seal it up and never come out! CANCER! CANCER!! CANCER!!!

Everything gives you cancer. With the exception of not eating radioactive isotopes I am not going to take any extra special steps to "avoid" getting cancer. If it's gonna get you...it's gonna get you! And when I put on sunscreen it's not because I want to avoid cancer; it's because I want to avoid a painful burn.

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