If you could take a pill to reduce your chances of getting melanoma would you? A new study appearing in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology provides evidence that taking a Vitamin A supplement may do just that.
While it’s still too early to tell whether or not this claim is true, the results are still noteworthy. Researchers analyzed almost 70,000 people, most around age 62, for a five-year period. They found participants taking Vitamin A supplements were approximately 40 percent less likely to develop melanoma than those who did not. The study also concluded that while supplements seemed to lower melanoma risk, eating food hearty in Vitamin A did not seem to affect a person’s likelihood of getting melanoma.
Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses, so it’s important to discuss your medications and vitamin supplements with your physician prior to changing your daily routine.
Steps you can currently take to prevent skin cancers include using sun protection and getting regular skin checks.
More on this study from WebMD
