topical forskolin: possible rub on tan

Another potential way to increase the amount of melanin in the skin is gaining some publicity from a Sep. 21 article in Nature. Whereas melanotan (Clinuvel, epitan) uses a synthetic melanocyte stimulating hormone, forskolin stimulates the production of melanocyte in fair skinned individuals by raising a chemical known as cyclic AMP (cAMP). Alas forskolin is a known vasodilator.

From Rub On a Tan and Prevent Skin Cancer?

To figure out what’s going on under the skin, Fisher and his team studied red-haired, fair-skinned mice. Like people with red hair and light skin, these mice didn’t tan, but instead burned when exposed to the sun and its ultraviolet rays.

Melanin is manufactured when a chemical known as cyclic AMP (cAMP) stimulates melanocytes, the melanin-producing cells in the skin. Different people produce different levels of cAMP. People with red hair and fair skin tend to have low levels of cAMP.

Levels of cAMP are controlled by a hormone called melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). The reason that fair-skinned, red-haired mice have low levels of cAMP is that the receptor for MSH, which is called MC1R, is shaped differently and can’t be effectively stimulated by MSH. The result is fair skin, because less pigment is produced.

Fisher and his colleagues believed that this pathway to melanin production could be repaired in the fair mice. To test this theory, the researchers used a compound known as forskolin on the mice because it’s believed to raise cAMP levels.

Indeed, after forskolin was rubbed on the skin of the mice, their skin darkened. According to Fisher, the tanning process appeared to be indistinguishable from the normal tanning process that skin goes through when exposed to sunlight. And, he said, the mice didn’t have the same inflammatory response in their skin after being exposed to the sun. Additionally, the researchers didn’t notice any ill effects from the treatment, he added.

But, Fisher said, “Long before this could be recommended for people, it has to be rigorously tested. We have to be sure what we’re doing is safe. We don’t want to cause problems in people who are otherwise healthy.”

• Wikipedia: Melanotan, Forskolin
• Fermentek: Forskolin
• Rosacea News: melanotan (epitan) offers sun protection for fair skin individuals
• Rosacea News: reapply sunscreen to avoid skin damage
• Rosacea News: micronized zinc oxide dimethicone a safe sunscreen

Read more about: melanotan