Word: psoralen
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...enhancer, Norman Levine, a University of Arizona dermatologist, confirmed that it produces a fast tan for all skin types by increasing melanin, the skin pigment that absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays. The black mark against Bergasol, say other doctors, is that it contains the chemical psoralen, extracted from citrus oil. In animal tests at Harvard Medical School, high doses of psoralen caused skin cancer. Still, says Harvard Dermatologist Madua Pathak, Bergasol also contains sunscreen, which reduces UV absorption and cuts the risk to humans to acceptable levels. Harvard Colleague Robert Stern is not so sure. Says...
Sunburn. Easily the most burning question concerns suntan pills derived from an ancient Egyptian herb remedy. A few years ago, U.S. researchers extracted the weed's potent chemical, 8-methoxy-psoralen, or 8-MOP for short, thought it might help thin-skinned sun seekers tan without burning (TIME, Oct. 17, 1955). Then the team split. One member, the University of Oregon's Dr. Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, concluded that 8-MOP actually makes burns more likely. A small drug firm, Paul B. Elder Co. of Bryan, Ohio, put up 8-MOP in capsules as Oxsor-alen, got it passed...
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