Skin Cancer

Melanin makes skin vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet rays

Published in Cancer Weekly, November 2nd, 2004

Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays, according to a new study.

Melanin filters out UV radiation, but the melanin in hair follicles, particularly in light hair, actually increases the sun damaging effects of UV rays and causes cell death in the hair follicle, said Douglas Brash, principal investigator and professor of therapeutic radiology, genetics and dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.

Brash said he had been curious why people with dark hair and fair skin were not as vulnerable to skin...

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Source: Cancer Weekly (2004-11-02)

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