Do Skin Creams Cause Cancer?

In the dermatology world, an argument is brewing surrounding a potential link between the vitamin A by-product retinyl palmitate (RP) and a rise in skin cancer. In August 2010, a corporation known as the Environmental operating cluster (EWG) reported the results of a study on mice that found that this common anti-aging ingredient speeds the expansion of cancer cells when exposed to the sun. The EWG then counseled that each one sunscreens containing RP be avoided. However, per the FDA, they omitted one terribly vital fact: The mice utilized in this study were treated with an RP cream alone, not one with sunscreen. it's potential that the addition of a sunscreen ingredient might have altered this finding. (Check out this report that refutes the EWG claim.) This recent study aside, I’m not an enormous fan of RP anyway as an anti-aging ingredient. RP will offer some sun protection against UVB lightweight however not against UVA lightweight. There are many different members of the vitamin A family that deliver higher results. 

What is the distinction between retinol and retinyl palmitate?

Retinol and retinyl palmitate are members of the vitamin A family, that is additionally referred to as the "retinoid” family. The vitamin A family includes retinyl esters like retinyl palmitate and retinyl linoleate; additionally to retinol, tretinoin, adapalene, tazorotene, oral Accutane and beta carotene. Since retinyl palmitate could be a retinoid ester, this suggests it's a unique chemical structure than retinol. In fact, once absorbed into the skin, RP is dampened into retinol. owing to the distinction in chemical structure, every member of the retinoid family acts differently. the most factor that retinoids have in common is that all of them act on retinoid receptors within the skin.

Retinol and tretinoin are higher anti-aging ingredients than retinyl palmitate

All retinoids ought to be used at nighttime as a result of they break down when exposed to daylight and lose their efficacy. though all of them bind to retinoid receptors, sure styles of retinoids absorb into skin higher and thus have a stronger action on the skin.  Not all of the retinoids are proven to boost skin aging. Tretinoin and retinol are shown to boost aged skin when used topically. It doesn't create sense to feature retinoids to a sunscreen formulation, in my opinion, as a result of they lose their efficacy upon sun exposure. additionally, studies have shown that retinyl palmitate doesn't penetrate the skin well, and since it will stay on the skin surface, it will bear changes when exposed to the sun. the most concern here is that the production of free radicals, which may theoretically cause cellular injury that results in skin cancer. it's this concern that has led to the EWG’s warnings.

Is vitamin A dangerous in sunscreen?