Common skin cancer drug smoothes wrinkles: study

Sachs and colleagues wanted to see if they could actually measure a difference in the appearance of skin.

They studied 21 people aged 56 to 85 with actinic keratoses and sun damage. The volunteers used the cream twice daily on the face for two weeks and the team measured changes in the skin, taking facial biopsies over a six-month period.

The drug had a significant effect.

"People's skin was much softer," Sachs said. "The texture was improved. There are fewer wrinkles around the upper cheek and eyes."

The researchers also noticed skin appeared less yellow and more even toned with fewer brown spots.

Sachs said for patients with precancerous spots, the findings may be an added inducement to finish treatment. It may be useful at treating the signs of sun damage in other patients as well, she said.

Actinic keratoses are caused by years of sun damage and can lead to squamous cell carcinoma, one of the two most common types of skin cancer that represent more than 1 million new cases each year. They are easily treated and rarely kill unless completely neglected.

(Editing by Maggie Fox and Bill Trott)