Skin cancer is amongst the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratoses, sebaceous carcinoma, and many other types of skin cancer. And even if you’ve worn your wide-brimmed hat, applied your sunscreen, and stayed in the shade — there’s still a chance that skin cancer might affect you at some point in your life. Regularly checking your body for any abnormalities on the skin is beneficial for identifying skin cancer.
Aside from protecting your skin from sun damage, there are also other natural skin remedies that may be able to help prevent cancer in the first place. Luckily, there are natural remedies for skin cancer, like diet, that you can start incorporating into your day-to-day routine today. For those looking for less conventional treatment, let’s take a closer look at how to treat skin cancer naturally and see which skin cancer natural treatment methods may be a fit for you or your loved ones. At Immunity Therapy Center, we’re advocates for holistic treatments and we love spreading the knowledge to keep you happy, healthy, and informed. Read below to learn how to treat skin cancer naturally.
Diet and Vitamins
A good place to start is your diet. The most common cancers in America are nonmelanoma skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, with over 5 million cases treated annually.
Basal cell sarcoma often occurs from excessive sun exposure. UV rays can damage DNA in skin cells, causing cancer to form. Any damage to DNA can prohibit proper functioning in our cells, leading to an excessive growth of cancer cells.8 Squamous cell carcinoma is another common form of skin cancer that forms in the middle to outer layer of the skin. While this form may not be life threatening, it can still become an aggressive skin cancer if left untreated.
While protecting your skin from sun exposure can help prevent the growth of skin cancer cell growth, research also shows that diet can also help prevent cancer. With research showing that changes in your diet can help to prevent these common skin cancer cases, more and more dermatologists are backing the idea that antioxidants can help fight against cancer-causing free radicals. Doctors are suggesting whole foods rich in Vitamins C, E, and A, zinc, selenium, beta carotene (carotenoids), omega-3 fatty acids, lycopene, and polyphenols. Here’s what these antioxidants do and a list of foods where you can find them. 1
Vitamin C
Scientists have found that some properties of vitamin C cause it to be toxic to cancerous cells. Although evidence hasn’t shown that it prevents or decreases skin cancer cases, studies have made the correlation between higher levels of vitamin C in the blood and a lower overall risk of cancer deaths. To take full advantage of this natural remedy, enjoy a daily dose of vitamin C from foods like orange, limes, raspberries, strawberries, and leafy greens.
Vitamin E
When it comes to natural remedies for skin cancer, Vitamin E is somewhat of a wonder antioxidant. It helps prevent damage from free radicals, absorbs the energy from UV light, has anti-inflammatory properties, and also improves the skin and vein’s ability to protect. Get your intake of vitamin E from almonds and nuts, sunflower seeds, and spinach.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is known to keep skin supple and looking good, but researchers recently have found that those who consume more vitamin A will lessen their risk factors of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. You can find this vitamin in chicken, turkey, or beef liver, eggs, carrots, kale, pumpkin, broccoli, and more.
Polyphenols
One of the best home remedies for skin cancer is sipping a mug of warm green tea. Polyphenols are a powerful plant compound found in black and green tea. Because of their powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tumor-inhibiting properties, studies have shown that drinking these teas can help to prevent skin cancer and can repair DNA in UV-exposed skin (which reduces cell damage).
Zinc
Zinc helps the immune system function so that it can fight cancer and diseases and helps to activate certain antioxidants in the body. Studies show that this natural remedy can increase the level of proteins in DNA repair and reduce the type of DNA damage that leads to cancer. Find Zinc in beef, lamb, shellfish, chickpeas, and black beans.
Selenium
With 16 major studies that involved close to 150,000 people, it was shown that a higher intake of selenium showed a 31 percent lower risk of cancer and a 40 percent lower risk of cancer deaths. You can find selenium in foods like chicken, grass-fed beef, and Brazil nuts — so add those to your natural remedies for skin cancer grocery list.
Beta Carotene
Beta Carotene offers health benefits by converting to vitamin A in your body. Although it hasn’t been shown to prevent skin cancer, eating foods that are rich in beta carotene might help reduce the risk factors of some cancers (plus, they boost the immune system’s ability to fight disease). Go for vegetables and fruits that are orange in color, like carrots, squash, apricots, and sweet potatoes.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Many ask, Is melanoma treatable? While there are a variety of treatments available, a more natural option is to incorporate a healthy diet and the best diet for melanoma and other types of skin cancer is one rich in fatty acids. You’ve probably heard of just how good omega-3 fatty acids are for you. When it comes to how to treat skin cancer naturally, you’ll definitely want to make them an important component of your diet. But why? Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit COX-2, which is a chemical that promotes the progression of skin cancer. They’re also said to reduce inflammation, which has been linked to cancer. Find your omega-3’s in fatty fish like herring, albacore tuna, salmon, and sardines as well as walnuts and flaxseeds.
Lycopene
Studies show that the same red pigment in tomatoes that helps protect them from the sun may also protect your skin. In fact, after a 10-week study, patients who regularly ate tomato paste were 40 percent less likely to be sunburned than those who did not eat the tomato paste! In addition to tomatoes, you can find lycopene in foods like watermelon, papaya, guava, apricots, and pink grapefruit.
Topical Skin Treatments
Apple Cider Vinegar
When it comes to home remedies for skin cancer, apple cider vinegar is often used as a topical (and internal) treatment. Made by fermenting apples with yeast and bacteria, its main active compound is acetic acid.
In the early 1900s, Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg brought forth the idea that cancer was a result of a high level of acidity and a low level of oxygen in the body — further observing that as they grew, cancer cells produced lactic acid. People concluded that if the blood was made less acidic, it would help kill cancer cells. Apple cider vinegar began being used to reduce acidity in the body, based on the idea that it’s an alkalizing acid.
To use apple cider vinegar topically, start off with a small amount on a cotton ball — as some people can have an allergic reaction to it. Keep in mind that apple cider vinegar should not be seen as a replacement for cancer treatment and the theory of using it (whether topically or internally) to prevent or cure cancer has not been proven.
Coconut Oil
One of the most popular skin cancer natural treatment options is coconut oil. Our skin is absorbent, and coconut oil is often used as a moisturizer and in the treatment of itchy skin. There’s also been evidence shown that coconut oil fights against free radical formation and might help protect against skin cancer.
Essential Oils
Home remedies for skin cancer also include the use of essential oils. They protect against cancer cells and are also soothing on any resulting skin lesions that may be healing from surgery. For skin cancer natural treatment, try adding some of these cancer-fighting essential oils for skin cancer into your wellness routine.
Frankincense Oil
Used as a healing agent across cultures for centuries, Frankincense oil has also been noted for its cancer-fighting abilities in cancers of the breast, bladder, and skin.
Black Raspberry Seed Oil
Blackberry seeds are said to fight cancer cells, and they’re known for their immune-boosting properties and their ability to target the tumor itself.
Eggplant Extract
In a study from Cancer Letters, purple eggplant extract has been proven as an effective treatment for keratosis, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Since 1825, eggplant extract creams with a 10% concentration of solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides have been used as topical skin cancer treatment home remedies.
Myrrh Oil
Myrrh is a dried sap from a thorny tree that’s used to help treat a variety of diseases. Although there is limited scientific data, some studies show that it can fight cancer cells in prostate, breast, and skin cancers.
Although natural and herbal remedies are more favorable than traditional surgery or targeted therapy options, remember to take an approach that best suits your diagnosis.
Holistic Skin Cancer Treatment
While skin cancer can’t be cured on its own, there are a number of natural treatments that may be able to prevent other invasive treatment methods. Holistic skin cancer treatment can mean something different for everyone. At Immunity Therapy Center, we offer the most comprehensive program in alternative cancer treatments.
We know that each cancer is unique, which is why we pride ourselves on treating our patients in a relaxing and loving atmosphere as well as providing undivided attention to each and every person. Our targeted therapy options have proven successful in treating cancerous tissue and provide alternatives to traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments. From whole-body hyperthermia to laser cancer treatment, we customize your treatment plan and make sure that diet is at the forefront to boost your immune system and ensure that you are getting the nourishment you need to fight your cancer.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with skin cancer, we welcome you to reach out to us today. Until then, we’re wishing you a happy and healthy day ahead.
Written By: Dr. Adolfo Carrillo
Dr. Adolfo Carrillo is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
Dr. Carrillo has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista for over 5 years as a treating physician at the Immunity the Immunity Therapy Center. Dr. Carrillo is a charismatic Doctor whose knowledge and commitment to patient care and bringing healing to patients is a valuable asset to our center.
Sources:
- skincancer.org. Can Your Diet Help Prevent Skin Cancer? https://www.skincancer.org/blog/can-your-diet-help-prevent-skin-cancer/
- medicalnewstoday.com. Does Vitamin A Help Reduce Skin Cancer Risk? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325931
- HDFChealth.com. Home Remedies for Skin Cancer. https://www.hdfchealth.com/knowledge-center/health-and-living-guide/home-remedies-for-skin-cancer.aspx
- cdc.gov. What Is Skin Cancer? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323439
- healthline.com. Can Apple Cider Vinegar Prevent or Treat Cancer? https://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-cancer
- skinvision.com. Healthy Skin: How You Can Benefit From Coconut Oil https://www.skinvision.com/articles/healthy-skin-how-you-can-benefit-from-coconut-oil/
- medicalnewstoday.com. Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help Treat Cancer? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323439
- What Causes Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers? American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/what-causes.html#:~:text=Most%20basal%20cell%20and%20squamous,the%20DNA%20inside%20skin%20cells
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.