Skin cancer continues to rise despite increased awareness about sun safety. The most common forms affect about one in four Americans. But could something you eat or drink cut your risk in half? Experts are pointing to new research surrounding a common supplement that may offer promising protection.
Skin cancer runs in David Black’s family. “All I remember is my father always getting skin cancers taken off,” he shared. Black relies heavily on sunscreen, but admits he can’t always depend on himself to reapply it. “I’ll put on sunblock once, but then I’m out hiking for hours and I never put it on again. So I definitely need something that’s going to work daily,” he explained.
Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Teo Soleymani believes a common Vitamin B3 derivative could be exactly what Black needs. Researchers studied 34,000 people who took nicotinamide for 20 years and found compelling results.
“We saw that the group that took nicotinamide at the right dose, which was 1,000 milligrams a day or 500 milligrams twice a day, had a 54% reduction in non-melanoma skin cancer risk compared to the group that didn’t,” said Dr. Soleymani.
Oral nicotinamide is available in powder or pill form and has been shown to help protect against the most common types of skin cancer. “Squamous cell carcinoma, which is widespread throughout the United States, accounts for about five million cases this year alone. It is the number one cause of skin cancer death,” he added.
But how does an oral supplement prevent sunburns and skin cancer? Dr. Soleymani explains that nicotinamide works by repairing skin DNA. It strengthens the skin’s barrier, reduces inflammation, and improves skin texture. “And as a side effect, your skin looks better,” he noted.
Nicotinamide is widely available over the counter, inexpensive, and generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Dr. Soleymani emphasizes that it is not a replacement for sunscreen, but works differently to support skin health.
“I recommend that if you’re using sunscreen or if you are thinking about your skin health, nicotinamide is an easy, effective, low-cost supplement everybody should consider,” he said.
For David Black, this new approach offers exciting protection. “I think for me, the part that’s surprising is knowing that if I could drink something, I could prevent cancer,” he said.
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**Key Takeaways:**
– Nicotinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, may reduce non-melanoma skin cancer risk by over 50%.
– It supports skin DNA repair, reduces inflammation, and strengthens the skin barrier.
– It is available over the counter, affordable, and has minimal side effects.
– Nicotinamide complements sunscreen use but does not replace it.
– Particularly helpful for people with a family history or high risk of skin cancer.
If you’re concerned about skin cancer risk, talk to your dermatologist about whether nicotinamide supplementation might be right for you.
https://abc7.com/post/more-sun-smart-sunscreen-how-simple-supplement-may-shield-skin/18058768/
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