Herbs for Low-Risk Skin Cancers and Precancers

Abstract

Low-risk skin cancers and precancers are common skin ailments that primarily affect fair skinned individuals in areas of skin with high sun exposure. Currently the primary treatments available for these types of lesions include surgery and cryotherapy, with the less common use of chemotherapeutic agents either topically or orally. These treatments tend to leave lasting scars and have a high rate of recurrence. Several products derived from plants including oleogel from Betula spp. (birch) and ingenol mebutate from Euphorbia peplus (garden spurge) have demonstrated effectiveness as treatments for actinic keratoses, with minimal side effects, scarring, and recurrence. Other herbs with preclinical evidence are discussed, including Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), Camellia sinensis (green tea), Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Vitis vinifera (grape seed). Sun damage is the primary cause of these types of skin lesions; various botanical interventions for photoprotection are reviewed.