Vitamin A and Moles

Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, helps keep your skin healthy. Moles, a type of skin growth, are common and not necessarily unhealthy, but they can develop into a skin cancer called melanoma. Although the relationship between vitamin A and moles is tenuous, vitamin A might play a role in skin cancer. Consult a dietitian before modifying the amount of vitamin A in your diet and seek advice from your health care provider if you discover new moles or notice a change in existing moles on your body.

Vitamin A

In addition to its role in maintaining skin health, vitamin A promotes good vision, assists in cell reproduction and keeps your immune system functioning optimally. Animal sources of vitamin A include eggs, liver and milk products, while beta-carotene – a precursor to vitamin A – is abundant in dark green vegetables and deep orange or yellow produce, such as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, mangoes and peaches. As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A can accumulate in your fat tissue and can cause toxicity if you supplement with doses higher than the recommended daily allowance. Because of the role vitamin A plays in skin health, it can also impact the development and treatment of some skin disorders.

Moles

Moles occur when specialized cells called melanocytes cluster together and form a growth on the surface of your skin. Often colored tan or brown, they can be flush with your skin or raised and can form anywhere on your body. Moles that remain small and round or oval are generally no cause for concern. However, if they grow, become irregular in shape or change color, they might turn into a melanoma, a cancerous condition in which an area of melanocytes begins to grow uncontrollably.

Vitamin A and Skin Cancer

Research to study the effects of vitamin A, both as a component of the diet and as a topical treatment, has yielded conflicting results. For example, in the January 1998 issue of "Carcinogenesis," researchers determined that a diet rich in vitamin A increased the incidence of skin cancer in hairless mice. However, this study looked at squamous cell carcinoma, a different type of skin cancer than melanoma. Another study, described in the December 2004 issue of the “European Journal of Cancer Prevention,” noted that a diet low in vitamin A correlated with a greater risk of developing melanoma in humans. Applied topically as part of a sunscreen preparation, vitamin A can promote skin cancer, according to the Environmental Working Group; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration challenges this claim, citing inadequate evidence from animal studies and no evidence from human studies.

Considerations

Despite the potential association of vitamin A with skin cancer, neither the National Cancer Institute nor the American Academy of Dermatology notes an effect of vitamin A on the development of moles or on their progression into skin cancer. However, consuming a well-balanced diet with foods rich in vitamin A can promote your overall health. In addition, minimizing your exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially sunlight, can reduce your chances of developing skin cancer.