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If your skin is at higher risk for skin cancer
I recommend that you choose skin care products that may lower your skin cancer
risk. This means more than just adding sun screen to your daily skin care
regimen. I've developed skin care recommendations that seem to improve my
patients likelihood of developing skin cancers in the over the 20 plus years that
I have practiced dermatology, taken care of thousands of skin cancer patients and
followed the scientific research on skin cancer. These skin care recommendations
that I've developed for my patients are the same recommendations that I use for
myself:
1. Of course, first and foremost, you need to keep the sun off your skin. We all
know that people prone to skin cancer can really decrease their skin cancer risk
by using good sun protection practices. This includes wearing a broad spectrum
sunscreen
on their exposed skin every day. I'm convinced that the best sun screen
ingredient for reliable, full UVA and UVB protection is microsized zinc oxide and
my sunscreens all contain over 5% of this time tested ingredient! It's also
important to wear a full brim hat and cloths that protect your skin from the sun.
Please see my sun protection information included on the Ultimate Sun Kit
page.
2. In addition, there's now evidence that if you apply a high concentration
vitamin C skin care product to your skin, such as C/R/S Rejuvination Serum,
you can get some partial protection from free radicals that form during sun
exposure. Free radicals damage the skin leading to skin cancer. As I mentioned
above in the information on photoaging, the quality of vitamin C products are
tricky to judge and I think C/R/S is the best, most stable vitamin C skin care
product made.
3. There is also new evidence that irritated skin is more likely to develop
skin cancer than non-irritated skin. For that reason, I like to treat skin
inflammation, especially on the face. To do this, I use Calming Zinc Soap,
and Replenix CF Green Tea Cream
as part of a maintenance skin care regimen for skin
cancer prone people. In addition, laboratory studies have shown that the
combination of green tea antioxidants and caffeine applied to the skin can reduce
skin cancer formation. Replenix CF Green Tea Cream has both a high concentration
of the right green tea antioxidants and caffeine, and in my practice I've observed
that my patients who use it every day develop fewer precancers than they did
before they began using Replenix CF Cream.
4. Scientific studies also suggest that you may develop fewer skin cancers if
you use prescription tretinoin based creams such as Retin-A. If you're
interested in using Retin A or Renova, see your dermatologist.
5. Finally, you should eat a low fat diet. Interestingly, there is
evidence that eating a low fat diet can lower the risk of developing skin
cancer.
Most skin cancers occur on the head and neck and so I focus most of my product
advice on these areas. My specific recommendations for people serious about
reducing their risk of skin cancer:
1. Cleanse their facial skin with Calming Zinc Soap,
2. Use my Antioxidant Facial Rejuvenation Kit,
3. Use perscription tretinoin cream,
4. Try to eat a diet low in fats!
5. Wear a full brim hat with a 3-5 inch brim when you are outdoors for any
significant period of time.
For the rest of your body, my advice for reducing skin cancer is to keep the
sun off your skin! Please see my sun protection guidelines.
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