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Topical Caffeine Might Help Fight Skin Cancer

Posted by kdawson on from the pour-it-on-your-head dept.

seattle-pk notes a story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about the apparent protective effects of caffeine against skin cancer. "For some years, studies have hinted at the possibility that caffeine can reduce the risk of some cancers. Now, new work by scientists at the University of Washington and Rutgers University may have unlocked the biochemical secrets behind caffeine's cancer-fighting ability. Studies at Rutgers (PDF) have shown that caffeine applied to the skin reverses ultraviolet-induced damage and reduces skin cancer."

3 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. Caffeinated soap? by Megane · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So you mean those guys making caffeinated soap were on to something after all?

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  2. And its other effects? by davecrusoe · · Score: 4, Informative

    Caffeine isn't just *possibly* good against skin cancer. There are definitely other things it's OK for, such as learning and memory, or at least, that thing we all do: work! See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine#Effects_on_memory_and_learning for all its complexities. Its really pretty interesting...

  3. Re:To paraphrase Captain Kirk by Carbon016 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Caffeine is quite an effective pesticide. It's an evolutionary self-defense mechanism against insects, especially effective when you're still in the "I don't have any protective stuff" phase like a seedling.