Caffeine may be Useful as a Sun Block Agent to Protect Lips
Beautiful Smile, Lips and Teeth
Several studies have linked drinking caffeinated beverages with lower rates of cancer. New research suggests drinking caffeine might not be the only way to reap its cancer-fighting benefits. Both coffee and tea contain powerful antioxidants, so this finding should not be too surprising. According to a summary in the August issue of New Beauty Magazine there was an interesting article about the potential for coffee to be used as a sunscreen ingredient. According to New Beauty, information from a new study was published in the prestigious scientific journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which suggests that caffeine may eventually be used as a topical ingredient, added to sunscreen formulas, to protect the skin. Dentists should find this interesting in that this may have potential to reduce cancers of the lip if caffeine is incorporated into lip-stick or lip-balm. Attractive lips are certainly one part of a beautiful smile, along with healthy appearing teeth.
In the experiment, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, one group of mice was genetically altered to suppress a protein called ATR, which promotes growth of damaged cells, while a second group of normal mice were studied as controls. In the altered mice the onset of cancer was delayed when they were exposed to ultraviolet light. Comparatively, the regular mice treated with a topical caffeine application, which also inhibits ATR, experienced a significant reduction in the growth of cancerous cells. These results are encouraging, but direct extrapolation from animal models to humans is not always possible. Therefore, scientists will need to examine whether or not caffeine has a protective effect for humans when it is applied topically to the skin or lips. If caffeine has a protective effect when incorporated into lip-stick or lip-balm, it might reduce the incidence of lip cancer which makes up about 10 to 15 percent of all oral cancers. However, it looks like we will have to wait to see how soon and if we will be able to order coffee flavored sun block at Starbucks or coffee favored lip-stick at Nordstrom’s.
Visit your favorite Seattle Cosmetic Dentist today for more information!
This is good news, because I can not imagine my day without several cups of tea or coffee!
Daniel, you said it! This is certainly a surprising article though. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. What an interesting article….. I know several people who would love to have another reason to continue enjoying their daily coffee. Perhaps caffeine would be a beneficial ingredient in SPF products?
Thanks for the great comments. Joalene, you are right that SPF might be better with caffeine in it. Great idea.
Hmm…this is really interesting. This just goes to show that most things are good in moderation, and can even have positive effects, despite what is sometimes proclaimed by the medical news.
Mark, True, moderation is the key! But Who would have thought caffeine at any dose would be considered good for you.? Thanks for the comment.
I didn’t even know lip cancer existed! To stop coffee from eroding my teeth or to not get lip cancer..hm..LOL!
I enjoyed your comment and I agree LOL. I looked at your dental assistant website and it is very cool. I don’t know how dental assistants are set up in other states, but Washington State made them “register” starting a couple of years ago. Probably to get more money for the state treasury than for any other reason. They did however allow them to do expanded duties at the same time. Thanks again for your comment.
Sabrina, Thanks for the comment. I love your blog it has some really good dental assisting info. I left you a comment on your blog too.
Very cool post! Love caffeine
Great news for people like me who thrive on strong coffee cups throughout the day.
Thanks for looking at our blog.
Wow who would have thought. This whole time I figured caffeine was only used to wake us up in the morning. Thanks for the great post.
Thanks for stopping by our blog.
Absolutely, I actually am becoming quite a fan and will probably have to moderate myself so I don’t spend too much time online
This is such a good news to coffee drinkers they can benefit on their extra time for coffee breaks.
Great comment. It does give great credibility to taking lots of coffee breaks.
No Way!! Guess I won’t give up on drinking my MT.Dew
Very interesting! Coffee stays!
OH wow I really never would have guessed that. I guess my daily coffee is actually paying off in more ways than one!
Yehey! Another good reason to have my coffee. I’ve been doing my research on coffee and I’m finding really good stuff about it. It’s unbelievable, they even give it to kids with ADHD and Autism to improve attention and focus. Now this. Thanks a lot.
Elysse, Thanks for the comment.
I think this blog is sharing such a nice and useful information with us. I really appreciate this.
It’s interesting. I guess the question for me is whether I prefer protecting my lips or elevating my blood pressure. I monitor my blood pressure and caffeine does seem to cause it to go higher.
LOL! Great reply. You have a fantastic sense of humor with an obvious scientific foundation.
Thanks for writing this blog post, it was informative and enjoyable
Very informative post thanks for sharing.
This is a nice blog..Thank you for sharing this.
Great news as it makes all the coffee I’ve been drinking worth it
Fantastic blog !! Was a great read.I was looking for this info for several days.
Wow, it’s definitely true you learn something new everyday – I sure did! That would be very satisfying if caffeine proved to be effective in lip stick!
Jenny,
I am not sure what this has to do with the topic of Lip Cancer, but it is an interesting commentary on your dental situation.