Be Cautious of Skin Damage

Did you spend hours on the beach when you were a child? Have you ever baked in the sun yearning for the darkest tan possible? Excessive sun exposure most often occurs during recreational activities and, like most people, we generally believe that we are safe from UV radiation.

It's estimated that there are 53,000 new cases of melanoma and 8,000 deaths due to this disease throughout North America yearly. Melanoma is the most deadly of the three major types of skin cancer. Squamous cell cancer and basal cell cancer generally stay localized in the epidermis, where their respective cells originate. Melanoma specifically can be difficult to detect. While some stages of melanoma will show the presence of a skin lesion, it can spread deeper beyond the dermis to the various organs. The first signs of this disease in many melanoma patients occur when tumours are found in lymph nodes or other organs.

Skin cancer accounts for almost half of all cancer in North America. According to the National Cancer Institute, current estimates are that 40 to 50 per cent of persons living to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. I personally have observed an increase in early stage lesions within the past 10 years.

Researchers internationally work diligently to cure and prevent this aggressive, observable disease. Two professors, Drs. Elaine and Myron Jacobson from the Arizona Cancer Center, are widely recognized as experts at understanding the role cellular that DNA damage plays in the formation of cancer. They have specifically demonstrated that a specific molecule from niacin can enhance DNA repair of cells that are damaged by sunlight and aging. 

This molecular research was so promising that the National Cancer Institute awarded The University of Arizona, via the Jacobsons, giving them an opportunity to develop compounds using this Niacin molecule they call "NAD" for the prevention of cancer. 

"Our cancer research had identified an important role for the active form of niacin in how cells respond to genetic damage," Dr. Myron Jacobson explains, "This research has the potential to prevent the formation of skin cancer and the progression of lesions that often occur before skin cancer occurs. We needed to identify a molecule that allowed us to deliver it without a reaction because niacin or niacinamide cannot be effectively delivered to skin cells."

The promising new molecule called NAD comes from nicotinic acid. What makes is so unique is that it stimulates the release of leptin, a naturally occurring hormone. Leptin is needed for the repair of DNA damage and for maintaining and combating photo-immune suppression. The other forms, nicotinamide or niacinamide, do not share the therapeutic benefits of nicotinic acid. Dr. Jacobson has formulated a product called Nia 24 in the form of a repair cream and sun block.

It's important to be observant, if you have been repeatedly exposed to sun or have had several sunburns, you should complete a self-evaluation every three months. Look for lesions that have irregular borders, colour variations and/or grow to a size that is larger than a pencil eraser. If you suspect that you may have melanoma, seek medical consultation immediately.

Karen V. Bowers, the founder of New Visage Advanced Skin Care and Anti-Aging, has 33 years of international training in natural skin care. For more information about her Vancouver office, treatments or boutique, visit http://www.newvisage.ca.