This new 'real sun-tan' drug may help prevent skin cancer!

Image for representational purpose only

Washington: A team of researchers have developed a new drug that makes person's skin darker without being exposed to harmful ultraviolet radiation, thus reducing the risk of skin cancer.

In tests on human skin samples and mice, the new drug tricked the skin into producing the brown form of the pigment melanin which gives human skin, hair and eyes their colour.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in the US found that the finding could prevent skin cancer and even slow the ageing process.

Ultraviolet (UV) light makes the skin tan by causing damage. This kicks off a chain of chemical reactions in the skin that ultimately leads to dark melanin - the body's natural sunblock - being made.

The new drug is rubbed into the skin to skip the damage and kick-start the process of making melanin.

David Fisher, one of the researchers, told BBC News, "It has a potent darkening effect. Under the microscope it's the real melanin, it really is activating the production of pigment in a UV-independent fashion."

It is a markedly different approach to fake tan, which "paints" the skin without the protection from melanin, sun beds, which expose the skin to UV light or pills that claim to boost melanin production but still need UV light.

The scientists want to combine their drug with sun-cream to give maximum protection from solar radiation.

Fisher said,"Our real goal is a novel strategy for protecting skin from UV radiation and cancer. Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer - that would be really huge."

The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.

(With PTI inputs)