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Nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3, a nontoxic and inexpensive vitamin that has been found to have beneficial effects on the skin - offering protection against environmental damage, reducing skin inflammation, acne and the incidence of skin cancer [10]
Ultraviolet light is an invisible form of light which can penetrate deep into skin cells where it can cause damage to DNA [2]. This can cause accelerated aging of skin and lead to mutations in DNA that can cause various types of skin cancer. Two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer.
People most at risk for developing skin cancer [1] include those who have:
Enjoying outside activities such as swimming, hiking, barbecuing and sports can increase the doses of UV light. Two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some type of skin cancer by the time they are 70 [3]. This shocking statistic includes people diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Basal Cell carcinoma can be summed up as uncontrolled growth or lesions that arise in skin’s basal cells, the deepest layer of the epidermis (skin) [3].
It is the most common and least dangerous type of skin cancer. It is least likely to spread to the rest of the body, but can cause disfiguring injuries to the skin and surrounding tissues. It most commonly occurs on the face, head, neck, and ears [4].
Though it is not considered exceedingly dangerous, it must still be excised and can leave scars and other visible abnormalities on your skin.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that develops in epithelial cells of the skin (the upper layers that that are most exposed to the sun). It is the manifestation of uncontrolled growth in these cells [5].
The epithelium is a type of tissue found in many places throughout the body and because of this, a cancer in one location can potentially spread to other areas. Treatment is likely to involve surgery or/and drugs. There is a substantial risk of metastasis, or spread of the cancer to other parts of the body with squamous cell carcinoma [6].
Melanoma is the third most common and most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is a type of cancer that develops in pigment containing cells called melanocytes [7]. These cells give our skin its colour. When damaged by UV light, melanocytes begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably.
In women, melanoma most commonly occurs on the legs, with men, it is most commonly found on the back. These are areas of the body which can be over-looked due their location, resulting in the development of melanoma before being detected. This is where a significant part of the danger lies. Though an uncommon occurrence, melanoma can spread to the liver, bones, lymph nodes, and even the brain.
Once it begins to spread through the body, treatment becomes complicated. The five-year survival rate for patients with melanoma that has not metastasized is around 98% [8]. The five-year survival rate for patients with melanoma that has spread drops to a low 17% [8]. Treatment for melanoma can include surgery or/ and drugs.
Now that we’re all terrified of getting on with our lives and going outdoors, what can we actually do to prevent the development of skin cancer in its various forms?
Sunscreen can be effective but has to be applied thoroughly and regularly for effectiveness.
A recent study performed in Australia showed that regular consumption of nicotinamide by people with a history of skin cancer caused a significant decrease in re occurrence of the disease [11]. These were people that had already suffered from skin cancer and had a pre-cancerous condition called actinic keratosis at the time of the study[12] [13] .
Nicotinamide has been found to help to reduce existing precancerous skin lesions, reduce numbers of new non-melanoma skin cancers and may even help to prevent melanoma [14].
UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancer by damaging our DNA, preventing repair by depleting cellular ATP (cell energy), and suppressing our skins' anti tumor immunity. Nicotinamide is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an essential co factor for ATP production.
Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. Researchers are suggesting including vitamin B3 in sunscreen could prevent 50% of non-melanoma skin cancers [14].
Nicotinamide can be taken in tablet form in doses of 500 mg up to 1500 mg daily or as a cream, rubbed into the skin [13]. This preventive treatment has no side effects. Unlike niacin, another form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide does not cause headache or increased blood pressure [15].
Eating a healthy, balanced diet reduces your risk of developing any cancer. Improving your diet can be as simple as eating more natural, antioxidant-rich foods such as:
Foods containing vitamin B3 include almonds, beef, chicken, eggs, salmon, mackerel, sardines, legumes, peanuts, sunflower seeds and yeast [16]